Stage 13

Pau – Lourdes

Distance: 152.5 kilometers.

After a sane start climbing a Category 3 and then a Category 4 before lunch, things become a good deal less than sane.

After lunch there is a sprint followed by the 16.4 kilometer climb to the top of Col d’Aubisque, a Hors Catégorie. At lot of hard work, but not insane, you say? Well consider the 40 kilometer, roller coaster descent to Lourdes. It is hoped that they have some sort of arresting net for those whose brakes burn out.

If you think I’m kidding, go to the official site and look at the “Profile” tab for the stage.

Jérémy Roy, David Moncoutie, and Thor Hushovd came over the top ahead of the peloton, and took the E-Ticket flight to the bottom, with Thor and Jérémy reversing positions. The rest were five minutes behind them, having decided not to die trying to catch up.

Thomas Voeckler ( Fra – EUC – 181 ) [Yellow] 55h 49′ 57″
Mark Cavendish ( GBr – THR – 171 ) [Green] 264 points
Jérémy Roy ( Fra – FDJ – 138 ) [Polka Dot] 45 points
Arnold Jeannesson ( Fra – FDJ – 134 ) 13 [White]

Team: Garmin-Cervelo ( 051-059 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Thor Hushovd ( Nor – GRM – 051 )
Combative: Jérémy Roy ( Fra – FDJ – 138 ) [Red numbers]

They’ve gone 2,280.0 kilometers [1,416.7 miles] at an average speed of 40.8 kph [25.4 mph] ↓.

OVERALL STANDINGS:

1 Thomas Voeckler ( Fra – EUC – 181 ) [Yellow]
2 Frank Schleck ( Lux – LEO – 018 )
3 Cadel Evans ( Aus – BMC – 141 )
4 Andy Schleck ( Lux – LEO – 011 )
5 Ivan Basso ( Ita – LIQ – 091 )
6 Damiano Cunego ( Ita – LAM – 161 )
7 Alberto Contador ( Esp – SBS – 001 )
8 Samuel Sanchez ( Esp – EUS – 021 )
9 Philippe Gilbert ( Bel – OLO – 032 )
10 Tom Danielson ( USA – GRM – 052 )
11 Nicolas Roche ( Irl – ALM – 101 )
12 Kevin De Weert ( Bel – QST – 124 )
13 Arnold Jeannesson ( Fra – FDJ – 134 ) [White]
14 Peter Velits ( Svk – THR – 179 )
15 Haimar Zubeldia ( Esp – RSH – 079 )
16 Rein Taaramae ( Est – COF – 151 )
17 Levi Leipheimer ( USA – RSH – 075 )
18 Rigoberto Uran ( Col – SKY – 118 )
19 Jean-Christophe Peraud ( Fra – ALM – 108 )
20 Vladimir Gusev ( Rus – KAT – 194 )

38 Robert Gesink ( Ned – RAB – 041 )
39 Geraint Thomas ( GBr – SKY – 117 )
48 Thor Hushovd ( Nor – GRM – 051 ) [Stage Winner]
59 David Millar ( GBr – GRM – 056 )
92 Jérémy Roy ( Fra – FDJ – 138 ) [Polka Dot] [Red numbers]
98 Johnny Hoogerland ( Ned – VCD – 204 )
131 Mark Cavendish ( GBr – THR – 171 ) [Green]

Out of the race:

Lars Boom ( Ned – RAB – 043 )
Andréas Klöden ( Ger – RSH – 074 )
Gert Steegmans ( Bel – QST – 128 )
Vladimir Isaichev ( Rus – KAT – 196 )

Go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Le Tour” for all of the posts related to the race on this site.