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Stage 13, Saturday, July 14: Saint Paul Trois Châteaux - Le Cap d'Agde, 217 km

Rated Ascent: Km 194.0: Mont Saint-Clair, 1.6 km @ 10.2% - Category 3

The Race: When the race hit the day's only rated climb, the Mont St Clair, Michael Morkov was about a minute ahead of a unified peloton. The hill turned out to be steeper and more difficult than its third Category ranking led many to believe. Morkov's legs got soft mid-way up the climb as the Cadel Evans-led pack stormed by him.

Evans got a small gap on Wiggins, who unhurriedly closed by up to him. Over the top, a lot of damage had been done by the leaders' searing pace. Several sprinters were gapped, including Mark Cavendish. André Griepel was the penultimate rider of the first group to go over.

On the descent, the speed was kept high. The final kilometers to the finish were hit by side winds that kept the peloton from regrouping. Alexandre Vinokourov and Michael Albasini roared off down the road, chased by Lotto-Belisol who wanted to set things up for Greipel. After the duo were caught, it was one attack after another. The stage was being raced like a Spring Classic.

In the final kilometer Bradley Wiggins brought things together for Sky's remaining sprinter, Edvald Boassan Hagen. But the sprint was between Greipel and Peter Sagen, with Griepel taking a close win. Sagen's second place along with the 30 points deducted from Matthew Harley Goss yesterday for irregular sprinting probably sews up the Green Jersey for Sagen, assuming he can get to Paris without misfortune.

Bradley Wiggins easily defended his lead and will start tomorrow's stage in yellow.

Results:

1. André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) 4hr 57min 59sec. 43.7km/hr
2. Peter Sagen (Liquigas) s.t.
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) s.t.
4. Sébastien Hinault (Ag2r) s.t.
5. Daryl Impey (Orica-GreenEdge) s.t.
6. Julien Simon (Saur-Sojasun) s.t.
7. Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil) s.t.
8. Philippe Gilbert (BMC) s.t.
9. Peter Velits (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) s.t.
10. Danilo Hondo (Lampre) s.t.
11. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) s.t.
12. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) s.t.
13. Janez Brajkovic (Astana) s.t.
14. Kevin De Weert (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) s.t.
15. Chirstopher Froome (Sky) s.t.
16. Cadel Evans (BMC) s.t.
17. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto-Belisol) s.t.
18. Andréas Klöden (Radio Shack-Nissan) s.t.
19. Nicolas Roche (Ag2r) s.t.
20. Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) s.t.
21. Matthieu Sprick (Argos-Shimano) s.t.
22. Haimar Zubeldia (Radio Shack-Nissan) s.t.
23. Pierre Rolland (Europcar) s.t.
24. Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto-Belisol) s.t.
25. Chris Anker Sorensen (Saxo-Tinkoff) s.t.
26. Maxime Monfort (Radio Shack-Nissan) s.t.
27. Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel) s.t.
28. Simon Gerrans (orica-GreenEdge) s.t.
29. Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) s.t.
30. Christopher Horner (Radio Shack-Nissan) s.t.
31. Jérôme Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) s.t.
32. Luis-Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) s.t.
33. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ-Big Mat) s.t.
34. Mikel Cherel (Ag2r) s.t.
35. Rui Alberto Faria da Costa (Movistar) s.t.
36. Denis Menchov (Katusha) s.t.
37. Gianpaolo Caruso (Katusha) s.t.
38. Michele Scarponi (Lampre) s.t.
39. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Sharp) s.t.
40. Frank Schleck (Radio Shack-Nissan) s.t.
41. Robert Kiserlovski (Astana) s.t.
42. Pierrick Fedrigo (FDJ-Big Mat) s.t.
43. Vladimir Karpets (Movistar) s.t.
44. Michael Rogers (Sky) @ 9sec
45. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 46sec
46. Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol) @ 1min 8sec
47. Lars Bak (Lotto-Belisol) @ 1min 19sec
48. Yukiya Arashiro (Europcar) @ 1min 45sec
49. Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) s.t.
50. Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEdge) @ 2min 29sec
51. Amaël Moinard (BMC) @ 8min 3sec
52. Francis De Greef (Lotto-Belisol) @ 8min 36sec
53. Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) s.t.
54. Jens Voigt (Radio Shack-Nissan) s.t.
55. Michael Morkov (Saxo-Tinkoff) s.t.
    

General Classification: 2,402 km raced so far at an average speed of 40.34 km/hr

1. Bradley Wiggins (Sky) 59hr 32min 32sec
2. Christopher Froome ky) @ 2min 5sec
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) @ 2min 23sec
4. Cadel Evans (BMC) @ 3min 19sec
5. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto-Belisol) @ 4min 48sec
6. Haimar Zubeldia (Radio Shack-Nissan) @ 6min 15sec
7. Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) @ 6min 57sec
8. Janez Brajkovic (Astana) @ 7min 30sec
9. Pierre Rolland (Europcar) @ 8min 31sec
10. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ-Big Mat) @ 8min 51sec
11. Andréas Klöden (Radio Shack-Nissan) @ 9min 29sec
12. Frank Schleck (Radio Shack-Nissan) @ 9min 45sec
13. Nicolas Roche (Ag2r) @ 10min 49sec
14. Jérôme Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) @ 11min 27sec
15. Christopher Horner (Radio Shack-Nissan) @ 12min 41sec
16. Denis Menchov (Katusha) @ 17min 21sec
17. Maxime Monfort (Radi Shack-Nissan) @ 17min 41sec
18. Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel) @ 18min 4sec
19. Rui Alberto Faria da Costa (Movistar) @ 19min 2sec
20. Chris Anker Sorensen (Saxo-Tinkoff) @ 20min 12sec
21. Michele Scarponi (Lampre) @ 20min 32sec
22. Robert Kiserlovski (Astana) @ 20min 54sec
23. Peter Velits (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) @ 27min 37sec
24. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) @ 32min 59sec
25. Michael Rogers (Sky) @ 33min 13sec
26. Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) @ 33min 59sec
27. Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) @ 40min 17sec
28. Sanday Casar (FDJ-Big Mat) @ 44min31sec
29. Jelle Vanendert (Lotto-Belisol) @ 44min 45sec
30. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) @ 45min 13sec
31. Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) @ 46min 40sec
32. Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) @ 47min 17sec
33. Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) @ 48min 56sec
34. Juan José Cobo (Movistar) @ 54min 40sec
35. Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) @ 55min 54sec
36. Rafael Valls (Vacansoleil) @ 56min 37sec
37. Jean-Christopher Peraud (Ag2r) @ 56min 46sec
38. Gianpaolo Caruso (Katusha) @ 57mn 35sec
39. Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil) @ 1hr 0min 49sec
40. Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) @ 1hr 1min 56sec
41. George Hincapie (BMC) @ 1hr 4min 55sec
42. Peter Sagan (Liquigas) @ 1hr 5min 0sec
43. Richie Porte (Sky) @ 1hr 5min 26sec
44. Fabrice Jeandesboz (Saur-Sojasun) @ 1hr 6min 42sec
45. Kevin De Weert (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) @ 1hr 7min 0sec
46. Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) @ 1hr 7min 47sec
47. Dominik Nerz (Liquigas) @ 1hr 8min 54sec
48. Mikael Cherel (Ag2r) @ 1hr 9min 23sec
49. Jens Voigt (Radio Shack-Nissan) @ 1hr 10min 52sec
50. Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Sharp) @ 1hr 11min 3sec

Climber:

1. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana): 66 points
2. Pierre Rolland (Europcar): 55
3. Chris Anker Sorensen (Saxo-Tinkoff): 39
4. Robert Kiserlovski (Astana): 37
5. Michele Scarponi (Lampre): 33

Points:

1. Peter Sagan (Liquigas): 296 points
2. André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol): 232
3. Matthew Harley Goss (Orica-GreenEdge): 203
4. Mark Cavendish (Sky): 129
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky): 125

Young Rider:

1. Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) 59hr 39min 29sec
2. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ-Big Mat) @ 1min 54sec
3. Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) @ 41min 49sec
4. Rafael Valls (Vacansoleil) @ 49min 40sec
5. Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) @ 54min 59sec

Team Classification:

1. Radio Shack-Nissan: 163hr 56min 13sec
2. Sky @ 12min 38sec
3. Astana @ 24min 33sec
4. BMC @ 35min 14sec
5. Movistar @ 39min 16sec

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Stage 13 map and profile

Stage 13 map

Stage 13 profile

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Stage 13 photos

The publicity caravan finishes. Still no pictures of a truck that looks like a giant fly.

Bradley Wiggins leads Edvald Boasson Hagen and the rest of the front group.

As the sprint opens, it's between Greipel and Hagen. Sagen (in green) is tucked in behind Greipel.

Sagen comes off Greipel's wheel and Hagen is passed.

Now it's a drag race between Sagen and Greipel.

As they drive fro the line, it's still too close to call.

Greipel is starting to pull ahead

It's still a matter of millimeters

Greipel knows he got it.

André Greipel was the best of the sprinters who made it over the hill in the first two groups.

Wiggins will ride stage 14 in yellow.

And Peter Sagan will be in green.

Raymond Poulidor was there.

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