Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of stage 13 of the Tour de France
The last of the riders are signing on in Bourg d'Oisins and we'll be rolling out shortly.
After two days of high-mountain drama, the Tour exits the Alps now and starts to make its way over to the Pyrenees. The first of these transition stages takes us to the city of Saint-Etienne, where the sprinters will be eyeing success after a week of suffering so far.
We're on the move. The riders are rolling through the neutral zone and the stage will be properly underway in around 15 minutes.
Before we get going, why not catch up on yesterday's action. Report, results, photos from another brilliant stage in the Alps.
It's another hot day out there. Here are the yellow and green jerseys, Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert, wearing ice vests on the podium a little earlier.
Just a few hundred metres to kilometre zero, so we'll soon be off and we should see a fair fight for the breakaway.
We're off!
Mads Pedersen kicks things off but pretty much every one else accelerates too
Nils Politt is the next to try and force the issue.
Ineos have sent Filippo Ganna and Luke Rowe up the road as a group of 15 goes clear.
Things come back together and settle down for a moment.
Pedersen goes again.
Taco van der Hoorn gives it a nudge now but nothing's going clear.
After a kew kilometres on the flat, we're now zipping downhill on a very gentle descent. It's hard to make a difference at these speeds.
Stefan Kung eases clear, as if by accident.
Kung eases up and Stan Dewulf is the next to try.
More accelerations on this downhill section but nothing sticking.
Kamil Gradek kicks off the next wave.
Politt joins what's now a five-man move but there are more accelerations behind.
Politt and Gradek have Taco van der Hoorn, Mathis Louvel, and Jeremy Lecoq for company. Dewulf tried to get across but failed. Trek then tried to counter but also failed, and this quintet is starting to move clear.
Peter Sagan attacks from behind now. He has Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg on his wheel.
The duo get across but they drag the rest of the bunch closer.
170.5km to go
Interesting to see Van Rensburg give it a nudge. He's a lead-out man for Caleb Ewan at Lotto Soudal. If he was in a break then Lotto wouldn't chase in the peloton. Likewise, Jasper Philipsen's Alpecin-Fenix had someone marking that last move. Chances of a bunch sprint look increasingly unlikely.
And now Bora's sprinter, Danny van Poppel, goes up the road with Van der Hoorn. Trek, once again, are chasing.
We'll soon be hitting the first of the day's categorised climbs, the Côte de Brié, which is 2.4km at 6.9%
Three more join this Van Poppel/Van der Hoorn move and this looks more promising...
The peloton slows up, and the five riders move clear. Pedersen is in there for Trek. There's a counter-attack from EF but he's the only one at the moment.
Pierre-Luc Perichon and Luca Mozzato are the other members of this nascent breakaway. They have 12 seconds in hand as they come to the end of this early downhill section.
164.5km to go
Van der Hoorn dropped from the break as Pedersen forces the pace. Van Poppel goes pop too.
Perichon attacks as the peloton comes back to the rest of the break. It's Ganna on the front of the bunch and he breezes up past Perichon now.
Sagan dropped out the back of the bunch.
Huge turn from Ganna on this climb and he's really stretching things out here. Kung and Cattaneo follow.
Cattaneo can't handle it and it's only Kung and one rider from Movistar now who can match the world time trial champion.
It's Matteo Jorgenson for Movistar.
162km to go
Fabio Jakobsen dropped! The Dutch sprinter is in a sizeable group off the back of the bunch. He should get back in but that's not a great sign.
We have a big chase group now looking to get over to the front three.
BikeExchange sprinter Dylan Groenewegen is also off the back in a different group with, interestingly, Primoz Roglic.
Politt and Pedersen won't take no for an answer today. They couldn't follow Ganna on the climb but they're in a 15-man counter attack now.
Here are the riders in the counter-attack
Jumbo-Visma are trying to shut the peloton down now. Alpecin-Fenix have missed this, though.
Another short descent now and Kung, Ganna, and Jorgenson lead by 15 seconds, with the peloton at 45 seconds.
Alpecin want to chase this down. They have four riders on the front of the bunch.
Alpecin are making inroads. They're 15 seconds behind the counter-attack now and 36 seconds behind the leading trio.
It's Philipsen smashing his way across the last part of the gap to the counter. That's Alpecin's own sprinter doing the work.
Split in the peloton. The pressure has caused a sizeable cut in the middle of the bunch here.
The front of the bunch is up with that initial counter-attack, and they're just 21 seconds down on the three leaders now as we head along the river in Grenoble.
Pedersen at it again. He gets Quinn Simmons to lead him out for another attempt to get across to the break.
The bunch is back together after that split.
Actually, the Jakobsen/Sagan group is still off the back.
A rider apiece from Bahrain and Israel have gone over to Pedersen, but they're still a fair way off the front three.
Owain Doull (EF) sets off in pursuit as the peloton refuses to calm down.
Simmons is still the driving force in the counter attack, with Pedersen there, plus Guillaume Boivin (Israel) and Fred Wright (Bahrain). They're 10 seconds down now.
The leading trio are happy to wait up now to allow this group to join forces with them. And the junction is made after 51 frantic kilometres of racing.
Doull is chasing at 35 seconds but he's in no man's land and he's not going to get across the way the guys up front are turning already.
The peloton looks to be easing up, slipping back to 56 seconds.
The Sagan and Jakobsen group stitches back onto the bunch, so the peloton is as one again, a minute behind a seven-man breakaway. It's almost sorted. Almost.
Alpecin put a man on the front of the peloton. Really.
And now Lotto Soudal put Philippe Gilbert up there.
Both teams have no representation in the break. This doesn't look a chase so maybe it's about keeping a tight leash for the whole day. That's a big ask, too.
As his Ineos teammates stop for a nature break, Luke Rowe pulls up alongside Gilbert and, mouth full of ricecake, asks him "Do you think you can catch that?"
Doull calls off his effort as the break move 1:30 clear.
So, this is the breakaway of the day
Puncture for Jorgenson. That's not ideal.
On this long flat stretch the breakaway move out to 2:20. Jorgenson is chasing at 20 seconds.
121.5km to go
It's still Lotto and Alpecin doing the controlling. They're keeping it close for now but will probably need some help as the day goes on. That's one reason Alpecin dragged it back earlier. So many other teams - including Lotto - had representation, so they were the only ones who'd really chase. Now they have Lotto on board and they will hope for assistance from BikeExchange (Groenewegen and Matthews) and perhaps Jumbo-Visma (Van Aert) later on.
Here's a shot of the break
119km to go
Simmons sets the tempo on the climb as they find more ground up front.
Warren Barguil (Arkea-Samsic) was a non-starter today, the sixth rider to pull out with COVID-19. None of those cases were uncovered by rest-day testing, the results of which were all clear on Monday. It was a surprise, and for some it was scarcely believable. Like for this association of sports doctors in Belgium, who've come out with allegations effectively amounting to a cover-up from race organiser ASO.
-112.5km to go
A whiff of crosswinds here as a couple of groups get snipped off the back of the bunch on an exposed stretch of road.
Luke Rowe suddenly barges through with the Ineos leaders in tow. It's tense out there.
100km to go
Jakobsen is among those dropped off the back of the bunch. We're heading out into another exposed section now.
The front of the peloton is still well bunched but the GC riders are up there now being minded by their henchmen. It doesn't look like the conditions will be right for echelons today but everyone's looking to stay safe in case.
Jakobsen is at the back of the race and teammates are dropping back to him. Not sure if there's a bigger issue here.
The pace in the peloton has seen the gap to the break drop to 1:20.
It's sad to leave the Alps behind, they've served up some great racing this year (Team Alps, by the way, Pyrenees are definitely second-best). Here's Alasdair Fotheringham with analysis of that dramatic day to the Col du Granon, the follow-up on Alpe d'Huez, and what it all means for the rest of the Tour.
Intermediate sprint coming up in a kilometre's time. Jakobsen is back in the bunch now.
Pedersen leads the break over the intermediate sprint. Just over a minute later, Van Aert helps himself to a few more points from the bunch. The green jersey is so so secure on his shoulders.
We're back on another exposed section of road and the bunch stretches out once more.
It's splitting!
Some riders are grabbing musettes at the back, Van Aert included, and they're chopped off the back.
The bunch has split in three!
It's not lighting up at the front of the bunch, and as we turn off that road to take on a small climb, things could well come back together.
A strange one, that. No one was really trying to split it into echelons but a big group got cut off the back and there was a smaller group in between. It's coming back now.
Gilbert is setting a brisk tempo on this uncategorised climb, but the breakaway are starting to really push on. They move back out to two minutes.
Crash! Ewan is down
The Australian slides out on a left-hand bend. He's down and clutching his knee.
Nightmare for Ewan. This is day done, if not Tour done. He tells his teammates to leave him and get on without him
Lotto just misjudged that corner as a team. One rider properly overshoots, Ewan overlaps a wheel between teammates and goes down hard. He's sat on the plastic road barriers at the moment.
Ewan gets back on his bike. He's going to give it a go but he's clutching his knee still.
Blood trickles down Ewan's knee but he remains in the race for now. He has three teammates up the road trying to get back to the peloton.
This is pivotal for the outcome of today's stage. Lotto are obviously not going to be chasing anymore. Not unless Ewan does get back in and recovers. It's a boost for the breakaway's hopes.
Lotto have eased off, but Alpecin haven't, and they've found support now from QuickStep, who've been anonymous all day but suddenly start to contribute.
Alpecin are sort of helping Ewan, who has been behind their team car for a good few kilometres. The team director is getting a telling off from the race officials now, and Ewan finally spits out in front. The Lotto car passes and offers a thumbs up to the Alpecin car.
Ewan is a minute down and he's in the proper convoy of team cars now. He's still on his own.
60km to go
We're coming towards the day's key climb. It's the cat-3 Côte de Saint-Romain-en-Gal, which is 6.6km at 4.5%.
Ewan is still chasing at 45 seconds. He has just made contact with a group that got split off after that crash, so he's linking back up with teammates now.
According to France TV moto @Nicogeay the Lotto-Soudal care was making its own "barrage" to prevent the commissaire moto reaching Ewan and the Alpecin car 😂 pic.twitter.com/8l3qTZT9qxJuly 15, 2022
The Ewan group is 25 seconds down on the bunch and they could really do with making contact before the climb.
50km to go
A reminder of our breakaway. It's a strong one.
Alpecin lead the peloton onto the climb. Van Aert is up there in second wheel as Jumbo come to the fore. Ineos are up there as well. QuickStep have slipped away.
Ewan is done
Ewan's cursed 2022 continues. He said he had the 'Giro from hell', and this Tour is turning out even worse.
Jakobsen is starting to dangle now.
Alpecin still force the pace through Dillier. Their sprinter Philipsen is still in this bunch.
Simmons is dropping from the break on an exposed section half-way up this climb. He's done a lot of work for Pedersen, including firing him over to the break in the first place.
Change in the bunch! Dillier peels off, so no sprint team on the front. Instead it's the GC teams of Jumbo, Ineos, and UAE.
They're slowing up. Jumbo have Van Aert but no one is interested in continuing to chase this breakaway down.
46km to go
44km to go
The question now is whether anyone bothers to chase. Lotto's sprinter is gone, Alpecin and QuickStep had to back off on that climb and there are more hills coming up. You'd only really be looking at the climbier sprinters like Michael Matthews, but we've seen nothing of his BikeExchange team all day.
As I write that, so very obviously and predictably, BikeExchange appear at the head of the bunch en masse.
Groenewegen is up near the front of this BikeExchange train. He's looking strong and could be in with a shout, but BikeExchange also have Matthews who would survive any hills and is the obvious back-up.
Too little too late from BikeExchange?
Jakobsen was dropped by the BikeExchange tempo over the top of the climb.
Here was Ewan after his crash a little earlier
Luke Rowe, adrenaline pumping after almost getting a musette to the face from his own soigneur, remonstrates with the TV motorbike ahead of the bunch. He wants it further away so it offers no aerodynamic advantage. That's because his teammate Ganna is up the road and in the mix for stage victory today.
35km to go
BikeExchange are down to three riders, and they almost lose one when Grondahl Jansen almost loses it on a right-hand bend downhill. Sketchy stuff.
Another near miss from BikeExchange on the bottom part of this descent. A major wobble for Jack Bauer on the front. Heart in mouth moments!
25km to go
The breakaway don't have enough time to start playing games here. They have to work together for a good while yet before turning things tactical.
Mechanical for Enric Mas, Movistar's GC leader.
The Spaniard is a fair way off the back as he gets going. He had a terrible day on Col du Granon but was among the best on Alpe d'Huez and sits 9th overall
17km to go
Mas gets back onto the back of the bunch.
BikeExchange are down to two riders on the front and they're looking around a little desperately. The team still have resources, but it's their sprinters and the lead-out man.
15km to go
Matthews hits the front for BikeExchange! He's sacrificing himself for Groenewegen now. But it's a lost cause, surely.
Matthews' pull lasts around 20 seconds before he pulls aside and shakes his head. That's that. It's a breakaway day, for sure.
Pedersen attacks!
12km to go was where Pedersen made his move and Wright and Houle show great legs to get across.
That leaves Kung, Ganna, and Jorgenson behind as the break splits in two under the first attack.
They're on a flatter section here but the top section of this uncategorised climb does ramp up a fair bit, before a dip down then a drag up to the line.
10km to go
Incidentally, or perhaps not, the front three were the latecomers to today's breakaway, while the three left behind were the OGs, the ones who originally formed it.
This could be a stunning ride from Pedersen. He made so many attempts to get into today's break, and presumably wasted a lot of energy in the process. But that attack was very strong, and he's the fastest finisher of this entire break.
Wright, meanwhile, has been in two breaks so far at this Tour, and came close on both occasions. You sense the young Brit is learning from each experience - will it be third time lucky?
As for Houle, well, he attacks now with 9km to go!
No daylight for Houle as Pedersen reacts very calmly indeed.
The gap is 20 seconds now for this trio
Houle tried it there on an incline. He's the strongest climber of this group, an underrated domestique for the hills. He's also the weakest sprinter of this trio so needs to get away alone.
7.5km to go
Pedersen is the fastest in this trio but don't underestimate Wright, a former track rider who's getting better and better.
25 seconds for them with 6km to go.
The front three are working together for now.
5km to go
Houle is still happy to rotate for now. You sense Pedersen will be perfectly happy with this at the moment. What will Wright do? He can sprint but will he fire off a bullet before that?
3km to go
Big acceleration from Wright but Pedersen again is all over it. Houle is gapped but fights with his bike and gets back on.
Final 2km now and they start to ease and look around
The gap is 35 seconds to the chasers.
Houle leads the way, Wright is say behind Pedersen, who's the big favourite on current showing.
Houle is the sacrificial lamb, on the front under the flamme rouge.
Into the final kilometre and this will be decided in a three-up sprint
Houle leads still. Lots of looking around. 600m to go
Pedersen still second wheel.
Gentle left-hander and it winds up
Pedersen goes with 250m to go!
He gets well out in front
And wins it!
Wright can't match the former world champion and settles for second, Houle is third.
Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) wins stage 13 of the Tour de France
Kung, Ganna, and Jorgenson cross the line half a minute down.
What a sprint from Pedersen, who ripped away boldly with 250 metres to go and just sailed away from the other two.
Van Aert leads the peloton home 5:47 down on the winner. No GC differences today.
Results
Let's hear from the winner
Here's reaction from Fred Wright, second on the stage
You can find our report, with full results, and a photo gallery all here.
Caleb Ewan says he hasn't broken any bones but warns he'll need to cool down and perhaps even wait until tomorrow morning to understand the full extent of his crash and injuries.
Another day in yellow for Vingegaard. It wasn't the easiest of days - hot, fast, and with a whiff of wind - but a day off as far as GC hostilities were concerned.
Tomorrow we have a tough stage to Mende, hillier than this and with a really nasty finish up on the Montée Jalabert. It's breakaway terrain, but the steepness of that short final climb will inspire some GC accelerations as well.
We'll be back tomorrow with full live coverage of that one, and we'll have all the latest news and reaction from our team on the ground in Saint-Etienne for you on Cyclingnews shortly.
A reminder that report, results, and photos from today's stage can be found here, and I'll bid you farewell and and a bon weekend.
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