OFFICIAL Stage 13 Results
Laurens De Jong
Hello, Tour de France Gamers!
STAGE Grade: A-
I rate today’s stage an A-. The mountains are beautiful, we had an actual race — surprisingly! We could have had a race and a GC battle, but we had none of the latter.
Route: 4/5 GC: 1/5 Tactics: 4/5 Sprint: 3/5 Surprises: 4/5
Tadej Pogačar had announced that his team would not control the race today. In my opinion, not so much so he could save his legs for the weekend, but because he was generous. Tim Wellens, he thought, or Brandon McNulty could win today’s stage.
I hope you see my point. If UAE Team Emirates – XRG are not saving Wellens’ or McNulty’s legs for the weekend, then they don’t have to worry about Pogačar either. Even when Pogačar isn’t racing for the stage win, his dominance is still there.
But okay. For three hours, the riders raced at 50 km/h — 31 mph. A group led by Jasper Philipsen had formed the early breakaway. His plan: points at the intermediate sprint for the green jersey. He hasn’t won any stages, but the race for the green jersey isn’t over. Philipsen wants to catch Mads Pedersen.
Also in the breakaway: Wellens. McNulty. And Tom Pidcock. Missing from that breakaway: Mads Pedersen and all the other sprinters. It was a coup by Philipsen and his team. Edward Planckaert and Emiel Verstrynge were with him, everyone in the 37-rider breakaway wanted to race, they were going 53 km/h, things were looking good for Philipsen.
Pedersen had missed the boat. He knew it, he made his team work. They worked harder than they ever worked before, Philipsen’s breakaway was getting away. Philipsen’s teammate Jonas Rickaert was blocking the peloton and Pedersen himself shoulder barged him out of the way. He crossed a line, Pedersen, being physical like that. For the second time in two days, in the intermediate sprint yesterday he blocked Philipsen. Yesterday he received warning but no penalty; today he didn’t even get a warning.
Clearly, the green jersey mattered to Pedersen as well. He chased and chased, for seventy kilometers. The organizers had placed the intermediate sprint at 138 kilometers from the start. I can’t say if they were lucky or good; but it created an exciting race. Riders were getting dropped everywhere. From the peloton. From the chase group. From the lead group. Even Wellens couldn’t keep up in the lead group, so much for Pogačar gifting him a stage win.
At least the riders from the lead group were picked up by the chase group. I lost count of who was in what group at what time, but in the end, it mattered very little. The chase group did catch the lead group, 24 kilometers from the intermediate sprint. We had a breakaway of 56 (!) riders, including the sprinters. Philipsen won that intermediate sprint, he had matches to burn. Pedersen finished second, minimizing the damage.
Pedersen could easily have been relegated in the intermediate sprint yesterday. He could easily have missed the boat today. That’s 45 points he saved — and he’s 41 points ahead in the standings. It pays to be aggressive.
Okay, with 56 riders, please don’t expect me to report on the tactics in the lead group. By the time the breakaway reached the top of the Ballon d’Alsace, they were only ten. Among them: Wellens, McNulty, Pidcock, Mauro Schmid and Harold Tejada. The fact that Wellens had been dropped but could stay in the lead group after the 50-km/h madness had quieted down tells a story.
Pidcock’s presence also tells a story. Because Pogačar had decided not to control the race, none of the GC teams were allowed to attack. I mean, you could attack, if you’re Lenny Martinez and you see Pidcock taking time on you. But if you do, Pogačar will make you suffer later on, more than you ever wanted to suffer. And you’ll suffer again tomorrow, and on Sunday.
Thanks to Pogačar neutralizing the race among the GC contenders, Pidcock saw his own general classification standing improve to, at the line, fourth place.
In the valley, there was a break in the lead group. Five riders, then a gap, then Schmid. He looked over shoulder to see if anyone else was going to close that gap. Nobody did, so he did it himself. Once in sixth wheel he took advantage of his surplus speed by immediately launching an attack. A textbook move. It surprised everyone except Tejada. With 15 kilometers to go, the decisive move was on the road.
The two riders built up a useful lead and, more importantly, worked together to maintain that lead. “The Trofeo Baracchi,” said Sporza, “is a lost couples time trial that makes it comeback here.” Sporza doesn’t know everything, the Trofeo Baracchi already ives on, in Ann Arbor.
Schmid finished 2nd in a stage in the 2025 Tour de France, he finished 2nd in two stages in the 2024 Vuelta a España, he finished 2nd in a stage in the 2022 Giro d’Italia. In 2021 his first pro cycling win was stage 11 of the Giro d’Italia but since then — nothing but second places.
He was determined not to finish second today. Trofeo Baracchi or not, Schmid moved behind Tejada with 2,400 meters to go and would stay there. The chasers came closer and closer while Schmid and Tejada went slower and slower. Schmid lost his nerve and went to the front, Tejada asked his God for assistance, they were playing with fire. I didn’t know if Schmid had raced on the boards, but he looked like a professional track rider and he has in fact spent his junior career on the velodromes of Switzerland.
Tejada launched first, but Schmid countered beautifully. The mano-a-mano sprint was won by Schmid. On the finish photo his front wheel is in the air, the result I think of a mismanaged bike throw. I guess they don’t bike throw on the velodromes.
Behind them, Pidcock won the sprint after Wellens had faded. Third today, fourth in the standings, a good day for him.
Quentin Pacher is our focus rider of the day, picked by Team Cameron*. In 2024, he finished second in stage 10 of the Vuelta a España. He was beaten in the sprint from two by Wout van Aert. That’s a reasonable outcome. But I have no recollection of that race, I had no idea who Pacher was. I watched that stage back just now, and I still don’t recall any of it.
Another race I don’t remember is stage 17 of the 2022 Vuelta. Rigoberto Urán won it, beating Pacher. Also a reasonable result.
Twice second, never first. Today he finished 32nd. Unremarkable, except for the fact that he was the last rider from the breakaway who wasn’t caught. Quinn Simmons was less than a minute behind him, leading the peloton. Pacher, fighting for 32nd place. That’s cycling.
Watch the final kilometer HERE.
Watch the FloBikes highlights HERE.
Watch NBC Sports’ Extended highlights HERE.
Read the TNT Sports report HERE.
Spoiler alert: There were no changes in the standings today.
With that huge breakaway it was a small-points kind of day. Team Charles won today, a tie for most points from the stage, most points overall, most riders in the Top-25 (four: I’ll name them all — Pidcock, Ben O’Connor, Luke Plapp, and Kévin Vauqelin).
Second were Team Oliver and Team Caleb and Team Matthew tied again; for third, this time. In fifth were Team Tadej, then Team Ansel, Team Josh, and Team Hugo.
Ninth were Team Grace. A special shout-out to Team Cameron who had picked Mauro Schmid, which nobody else did. They tied for most points from the stage, and were tenth today. Team Wesley were eleventh and Team Amalia twelfth.
Saturday’s stage has three category 1 climbs and a category 2 climb. One of the hardest mountain stages in the 2026 Tour de France. Pogačar is, ahem, well-rested (as if he needs it) and will win this stage. I see no way around it. Jonas Vingegaard can’t beat him. Richard Carapaz will want to beat him — but can only get that done if Pogačar decides to give away victory.
Standings after stage 13:
|
Rank |
Name |
Points |
WAS |
MOVES |
|
1 |
Team Ansel* |
2968 |
1 |
0 |
|
2 |
Team Josh* |
2899 |
2 |
0 |
|
3 |
Team Tadej* |
2880 |
3 |
0 |
|
4 |
Team Hugo* |
2631 |
4 |
0 |
|
5 |
Team Charles* |
2581 |
5 |
0 |
|
6 |
Team Caleb* |
2379 |
6 |
0 |
|
7 |
Team Matthew* |
2318 |
7 |
0 |
|
8 |
Team Oliver* |
2201 |
8 |
0 |
|
9 |
Team Amalia* |
2054 |
9 |
0 |
|
10 |
Team Wesley* |
1439 |
10 |
0 |
|
11 |
Team Grace* |
1126 |
11 |
0 |
|
12 |
Team Cameron* |
849 |
12 |
0 |
Standings after stage 13 (including dogs and adults):
|
Rank |
Name |
Points |
WAS |
MOVES |
|
1 |
Team Ansel* |
2968 |
1 |
0 |
|
2 |
Team Josh* |
2899 |
2 |
0 |
|
3 |
Team Tadej* |
2880 |
3 |
0 |
|
4 |
Team Kent |
2869 |
4 |
0 |
|
5 |
Team Kari |
2836 |
6 |
1 |
|
6 |
Team Melanie |
2801 |
7 |
1 |
|
7 |
Team Amelia |
2797 |
5 |
-2 |
|
8 |
Team Rob |
2725 |
8 |
0 |
|
9 |
Team Eric |
2716 |
9 |
0 |
|
10 |
Team Jon |
2659 |
10 |
0 |
|
11 |
Team Kurt |
2639 |
11 |
0 |
|
12 |
Team Hugo* |
2631 |
12 |
0 |
|
13 |
Team Craig |
2621 |
13 |
0 |
|
14 |
Team Julie |
2592 |
14 |
0 |
|
15 |
Team Charles* |
2581 |
15 |
0 |
|
16 |
Team Ed |
2496 |
16 |
0 |
|
17 |
Team Jonwaine |
2441 |
18 |
1 |
|
18 |
Team Laurens |
2430 |
17 |
-1 |
|
19 |
Team Ambrose |
2395 |
20 |
1 |
|
20 |
Team Corsa |
2389 |
19 |
-1 |
|
21 |
Team Caleb* |
2379 |
21 |
0 |
|
22 |
Team Matthew* |
2318 |
22 |
0 |
|
23 |
Team Kate |
2300 |
23 |
0 |
|
24 |
Team Grace |
2222 |
24 |
0 |
|
25 |
Team Oliver* |
2201 |
25 |
0 |
|
26 |
Team Adam |
2134 |
27 |
1 |
|
27 |
Team Ellie |
2133 |
26 |
-1 |
|
28 |
Team Cameron |
2116 |
28 |
0 |
|
29 |
Team Charlotte |
2065 |
30 |
1 |
|
30 |
Team Amalia* |
2054 |
29 |
-1 |
|
31 |
Team Jonathan |
2005 |
31 |
0 |
|
32 |
Team Erin |
1866 |
32 |
0 |
|
33 |
Team Suzanne |
1856 |
33 |
0 |
|
34 |
Team Lichterman |
1809 |
34 |
0 |
|
35 |
Team Furner |
1798 |
36 |
1 |
|
36 |
Team Allison |
1791 |
35 |
-1 |
|
37 |
Team Wesley |
1679 |
37 |
0 |
|
38 |
Team Senna# |
1572 |
38 |
0 |
|
39 |
Team Izzy |
1519 |
39 |
0 |
|
40 |
Team Wesley* |
1439 |
40 |
0 |
|
41 |
Team Valerie |
1258 |
41 |
0 |
|
42 |
Team Grace* |
1126 |
42 |
0 |
|
43 |
Team Cameron* |
849 |
44 |
1 |
|
44 |
Team Sam |
817 |
43 |
-1 |
Complete breakdown of points from stage 13:
|
Name |
STAGE RESULTS |
YELLOW JERSEY |
GREEN JERSEY |
POLKA DOT JERSEY |
WHITE JERSEY |
POINTS/CLASS |
TOTAL |
PREVIOUS |
CUM. TOTAL |
|
Team Amalia* |
22 |
34 |
6 |
9 |
3 |
52 |
74 |
1980 |
2054 |
|
Team Ansel* |
26 |
54 |
14 |
11 |
12 |
93 |
119 |
2849 |
2968 |
|
Team Caleb* |
46 |
46 |
11 |
11 |
7 |
77 |
123 |
2256 |
2379 |
|
Team Cameron* |
62 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
19 |
81 |
768 |
849 |
|
Team Charles* |
62 |
46 |
14 |
11 |
7 |
80 |
142 |
2439 |
2581 |
|
Team Grace* |
42 |
26 |
4 |
11 |
0 |
43 |
85 |
1041 |
1126 |
|
Team Hugo* |
20 |
45 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
80 |
100 |
2531 |
2631 |
|
Team Josh* |
26 |
52 |
14 |
11 |
12 |
91 |
117 |
2782 |
2899 |
|
Team Matthew* |
46 |
46 |
11 |
11 |
7 |
77 |
123 |
2195 |
2318 |
|
Team Oliver* |
48 |
46 |
14 |
12 |
5 |
79 |
127 |
2074 |
2201 |
|
Team Tadej* |
26 |
53 |
14 |
11 |
14 |
94 |
120 |
2760 |
2880 |
|
Team Wesley* |
35 |
32 |
0 |
5 |
7 |
44 |
79 |
1360 |
1439 |
Complete breakdown of points from stage 13 (including dogs and adults):
|
48 |
40 |
9 |
12 |
12 |
75 |
123 |
2011 |
2134 |
|
|
Team Allison |
26 |
29 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
51 |
77 |
1714 |
1791 |
|
Team Amalia* |
22 |
34 |
6 |
9 |
3 |
52 |
74 |
1980 |
2054 |
|
Team Ambrose |
49 |
42 |
14 |
11 |
7 |
76 |
125 |
2270 |
2395 |
|
Team Amelia |
0 |
48 |
11 |
9 |
15 |
83 |
83 |
2714 |
2797 |
|
Team Ansel* |
26 |
54 |
14 |
11 |
12 |
93 |
119 |
2849 |
2968 |
|
Team Caleb* |
46 |
46 |
11 |
11 |
7 |
77 |
123 |
2256 |
2379 |
|
Team Cameron |
61 |
40 |
9 |
12 |
11 |
74 |
135 |
1981 |
2116 |
|
Team Cameron* |
62 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
19 |
81 |
768 |
849 |
|
Team Charles* |
62 |
46 |
14 |
11 |
7 |
80 |
142 |
2439 |
2581 |
|
Team Charlotte |
60 |
39 |
6 |
15 |
9 |
71 |
131 |
1934 |
2065 |
|
Team Corsa |
0 |
45 |
12 |
9 |
12 |
78 |
78 |
2311 |
2389 |
|
Team Craig |
39 |
45 |
14 |
10 |
12 |
81 |
120 |
2501 |
2621 |
|
Team Ed |
39 |
46 |
14 |
11 |
7 |
80 |
119 |
2377 |
2496 |
|
Team Ellie |
22 |
36 |
12 |
12 |
8 |
68 |
90 |
2043 |
2133 |
|
Team Eric |
26 |
52 |
14 |
15 |
12 |
95 |
121 |
2595 |
2716 |
|
Team Erin |
52 |
40 |
3 |
14 |
6 |
65 |
117 |
1749 |
1866 |
|
Team Furner |
26 |
40 |
4 |
14 |
13 |
73 |
99 |
1699 |
1798 |
|
Team Grace |
54 |
43 |
12 |
14 |
8 |
79 |
133 |
2089 |
2222 |
|
Team Grace* |
42 |
26 |
4 |
11 |
0 |
43 |
85 |
1041 |
1126 |
|
Team Hugo* |
20 |
45 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
80 |
100 |
2531 |
2631 |
|
Team Izzy |
39 |
22 |
9 |
12 |
3 |
46 |
85 |
1434 |
1519 |
|
Team Jon |
17 |
46 |
14 |
9 |
14 |
83 |
100 |
2559 |
2659 |
|
Team Jonathan |
26 |
49 |
0 |
11 |
8 |
70 |
96 |
1909 |
2005 |
|
Team Jonwaine |
32 |
55 |
2 |
14 |
14 |
87 |
119 |
2322 |
2441 |
|
Team Josh* |
26 |
52 |
14 |
11 |
12 |
91 |
117 |
2782 |
2899 |
|
Team Julie |
26 |
48 |
14 |
14 |
12 |
90 |
116 |
2476 |
2592 |
|
Team Kari |
26 |
53 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
97 |
123 |
2713 |
2836 |
|
Team Kate |
56 |
44 |
14 |
14 |
5 |
79 |
135 |
2165 |
2300 |
|
Team Kent |
26 |
53 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
97 |
123 |
2746 |
2869 |
|
Team Kurt |
24 |
38 |
14 |
13 |
9 |
74 |
98 |
2541 |
2639 |
|
Team Laurens |
0 |
47 |
6 |
12 |
12 |
77 |
77 |
2353 |
2430 |
|
Team Lichterman |
26 |
27 |
12 |
9 |
6 |
54 |
80 |
1729 |
1809 |
|
Team Matthew* |
46 |
46 |
11 |
11 |
7 |
77 |
123 |
2195 |
2318 |
|
Team Melanie |
13 |
45 |
14 |
12 |
12 |
83 |
96 |
2705 |
2801 |
|
Team Oliver* |
48 |
46 |
14 |
12 |
5 |
79 |
127 |
2074 |
2201 |
|
Team Rob |
26 |
54 |
14 |
11 |
12 |
93 |
119 |
2606 |
2725 |
|
Team Sam |
17 |
15 |
0 |
5 |
4 |
24 |
41 |
776 |
817 |
|
Team Senna# |
56 |
34 |
9 |
11 |
0 |
56 |
112 |
1460 |
1572 |
|
Team Suzanne |
48 |
42 |
3 |
11 |
7 |
65 |
113 |
1743 |
1856 |
|
Team Tadej* |
26 |
53 |
14 |
11 |
14 |
94 |
120 |
2760 |
2880 |
|
Team Valerie |
24 |
19 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
37 |
61 |
1197 |
1258 |
|
Team Wesley |
0 |
29 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
47 |
47 |
1632 |
1679 |
|
Team Wesley* |
35 |
32 |
0 |
5 |
7 |
44 |
79 |
1360 |
1439 |
Allez le Tour!
-Laurens.