Alexander Vinokourov wins stage 13 at the Tour de France, Schleck retains lead

Alexander Vinokourov (Astana) stole a march on the sprinters to win stage 13 of the Tour de France on Saturday.

Wearing the red number of the most aggressive rider from stage 12, Vinokourov attacked the bunch on the final obstacle of the day, the Category 3 Côte de Saint-Ferréol, which topped out just 7.5km from the finish line in Revel.

French national champion Thomas Voeckler (BBox Bouygues Telecom) launched a valiant chase, but it was to no effect — Vino’ had his gap and he kept it all the way to the line, where he pounded his chest with both hands, then thrust his fists skyward.

HTC-Columbia’s Mark Cavendish, sprinting without an assist from his lead-out man Mark Renshaw, who was evicted from the Tour after head-butting Garmin’s Julian Dean, out-kicked Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre) for second on the day. Petacchi’s third place gave him enough points to take the green jersey back from Thor Hushovd.

There were no changes in the overall standings. Saxo Bank’s Andy Schleck retained his yellow jersey by 31 seconds over Alberto Contador (Astana) with Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) third at 2:45.

“It’s like a dream come true for me to win here,” Vinokourov said. “I tried yesterday and maybe the stage was one kilometer too long. Today my legs felt good and I decided to try again. I knew the sprinters were coming fast behind me and I gave everything I had. Now I am content and I will work 100 percent to help Alberto win this Tour with Astana.”

Petacchi, once only concerned with stage wins, has become a green jersey warrior, focused on making it over the Pyrenees to Paris.

“My team worked to catch the breakaway and my team helped me get over the final climb in good position,” the Italian said. “Vinokourov was strong enough to win the stage, but I was able to take back the points jersey back. It’s important for me now to try not to lose any intermediate sprints like what happened yesterday. The Pyrenees will be hard, but I am confident I can get over the mountains to fight to keep the green jersey to Paris.”

Schleck had a relatively easy day ahead of Sunday’s tough day.

“I was feeling a little tired at the start of the stage, but my team helped me get through some of the early hills. I felt fine on the final climb and was able to get through the day without problems,” Schleck said. “It’s going to be a big battle in the Pryenees. I hope to have the legs. I know I need to take some time on Contador, so I have to attack even though I have the yellow jersey.

Little climbs, lower temperatures

The 196km race from Rodez to Revel was a moderately hilly ride through the gorges and hills of the Massif Central.

The route featured five climbs, none more difficult than Category 3.

The blistering weather finally relented, and riders enjoyed temperatures in the 60s and 70s as they rolled out for the neutral start, which saw an early crash — this one involving the hapless Lance Armstrong (Team RadioShack), who collected some road rash to the left elbow.

Chavanel on the march

Going away in the first 5km were Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step), Juan Antonio Flecha (Team Sky) and Pierrick Fedrigo (BBox Bouygues Telecom). The former yellow jersey Chavanel was best placed overall at 38th, 26:03 behind race leader Schleck.

The threesome had taken two minutes and 30 seconds over the field by the 20km mark, with the Côte de Mergals just ahead. By the time Chavanel led Fedrigo and Flecha over the top, the gap had gone out to 4:55.

Fedrigo led Chavanel and Flecha over the Côte de Bégon, and by 40km the threesome had extended their advantage to six minutes. Fedrigo also took top points in the intermediate sprint at St. Jean Delnous, with Flecha and Chavanel second and third.

Back in the peloton, the HTC-Columbia and Rabobank teams were leading the chase, and at 67km the break’s advantage was down to 4:43. The leash lengthened a bit on the Côte d’Ambialet — the bunch crossed more than five minutes after Fedrigo led Chavanel and Flecha over the top.

With 75km to go the gap was 4:18 and Milram had joined HTC-Columbia and Lampre at the front. The break’’s advantage was 3:27 going over the Category 4 Côte de Puylaurens at 125km. Chavanel took top honors on that ascent, followed by Fedrigo and Flecha.

With 50km to go the break clung to an advantage of just two minutes and the chase was on for real. In the next 20km the trio’s advantage had plummeted to a half-minute as HTC-Columbia drove the chase. In the meantime Flecha took the second intermediate sprint ahead of Fedrigo and Chavanel.

Twenty-five kilometers from the finish the trio’s advantage was pegged at a half-minute, the bunch thinking about the final obstacle of the day, the Côte de Saint-Ferréol, which began about 12km from the line.

The catch — and the climb

Four kilometers from the start of the climb the peloton had the break in its sights on a long, straight stretch of road. Astana’s Jesus Hernandez took an inexplicable digger at the tail end of the pack and got up with a look of dismay.

The bunch caught the break with 10km to go, with HTC’s Maxime Monfort and Mick Rogers driving.

After the race Flecha was philosophical.

“It was the best stage for my characteristics since the Tour started. I had liberty today and I was able to get into the break, but the group worked to bring us back. It would have been good to have a few more legs in the breakaway. It’s always poker in a breakaway,” he said.

After the catch the bunch hesitated for a moment, and then Alessandro Ballan (BMC Racing Team) attacked, chased by Carlos Barredo (Quick Step), Nicolas Roche (Ag2r) and Damiano Cunego (Lampre).

Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargne) and Vinokourov were next to attack. Vino’ quickly caught Ballan and then drilled it, riding the BMC man straight off his wheel.

The descent off the Saint-Ferréol was a tricky one, and Vino’ made the most of it, whistling around the corners and taking a 12-second advantage over Voeckler, who was just ahead of the disintegrating peloton. Schleck was glued to Contador’s wheel, intent on conserving his 31-second advantage on the overall.

With 3km to go Vino’ clung to 15 seconds over the bunch, which had just swept up Voeckler. Milram was driving for Gerald Ciolek. But Cavendish was still in the hunt, too.

It was a flat run in to the line, and Vino’ had 18 seconds with 2km to go. He hit the red kite with his advantage intact. A right turn, then a left, a quick look over his shoulder and the Astana man won the best way — with no one else in the picture.

Cavendish took the sprint for second ahead of Petacchi (Lampre).

Race notes

• Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) quit the Tour on stage 13.

Up next

Sunday’s stage route is making its third appearance in eight years, and is quickly turning into a classic. It hits riders with two hard climbs in the last 40km. The 15.5km, 7.9-percent hors-cat Port de Pailhères softens riders up for the 7.8km Cat.1 climb to the Ax-3 Domaines finish. The last 5km of the Pailhères switchbacks up a 10-foot-wide “road.” The final 7.8km climb is much wider, but is still plenty difficult, with an average grade of 8.2 percent. More on stage 14.

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FILED UNDER: News / Race Report / Road / Tour de France TAGS: Alexander Vinokourov / Andy Schleck