Cavendish back to his best as Froome reduces his lead by a minute after a strong push from Contador and Mollema
Over the majority of this 2013 Tour de France the same thing has been reported - Froome's doing well while Cavendish is left disappointed after failing to clinch more than just one stage sprint. Friday however was a different story. The tables turned. Now Cavendish seemed to be back on his 'a-game' with Froome the one being left disappointed at the finishing line.
Friday's win not only increased Cavendish's points total but it also banished the majority of the steep mountain of questions that were being asked over the form of the cyclist. The rider from the Isle of Man made no mistake this time has he powered towards the end of the 13th stage of the Tour de France. With Cavendish's biggest rival, Marcel Kittel, out of sprint contention more than a 100km from the line, there was nothing preventing the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team rider to bag his 2nd stage of this tour and his outstanding 25th stage win of his Tour career.
With Cavendish crossing the line with complete conviction and undeniable success, Froome was left to wonder how he managed to cut a minute off his lead. With Alejandro Valverde, Froome's biggest rival finishing 70th, losing ten minutes and any hope of a top three finish come Paris, it was left to fellow Spaniard, Alberto Contador to increase the pressure on the Englishman. The Saxo-Tinkoff rider managed to get himself in to third position in the overall standings behind Sky's Chris Froome and team Belkin's Bauke Mollema.
With Froome's lead cut to 2 minutes and 28 seconds, more questions are being asked over the strength of team Sky and their ability to take the 2012 Tour runner up 'all the way'. The Saxo-Tinkoff squad, led by Contador, made a move that involved some rapid acceleration 30km from the end which propelled them forward and Froome, unlike Cavendish, did not become aware of this move in time and was thus left to chase the race. Despite the best efforts of injured Geraint Thomas and the rest of Sky, the team were not strong enough to come from that far behind and catch up with the Spaniard.
"Losing a minute is a bitter pill to swallow, because we worked very hard to get that advantage. I’ve still got a comfortable lead but today was a reminder that the race is still open. That lead is now two minutes 28 seconds over Belkin’s Bauke Mollema, with Contador a further 17sec down in third."
Friday's win not only increased Cavendish's points total but it also banished the majority of the steep mountain of questions that were being asked over the form of the cyclist. The rider from the Isle of Man made no mistake this time has he powered towards the end of the 13th stage of the Tour de France. With Cavendish's biggest rival, Marcel Kittel, out of sprint contention more than a 100km from the line, there was nothing preventing the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team rider to bag his 2nd stage of this tour and his outstanding 25th stage win of his Tour career.
With Cavendish crossing the line with complete conviction and undeniable success, Froome was left to wonder how he managed to cut a minute off his lead. With Alejandro Valverde, Froome's biggest rival finishing 70th, losing ten minutes and any hope of a top three finish come Paris, it was left to fellow Spaniard, Alberto Contador to increase the pressure on the Englishman. The Saxo-Tinkoff rider managed to get himself in to third position in the overall standings behind Sky's Chris Froome and team Belkin's Bauke Mollema.
With Froome's lead cut to 2 minutes and 28 seconds, more questions are being asked over the strength of team Sky and their ability to take the 2012 Tour runner up 'all the way'. The Saxo-Tinkoff squad, led by Contador, made a move that involved some rapid acceleration 30km from the end which propelled them forward and Froome, unlike Cavendish, did not become aware of this move in time and was thus left to chase the race. Despite the best efforts of injured Geraint Thomas and the rest of Sky, the team were not strong enough to come from that far behind and catch up with the Spaniard.
All of this comes in the light of losing one of Froome's key wingmen, Edvald Boasson Hagen. Could Hagen have made a difference in Friday's race? Maybe, but Froome still goes in to the next stage wearing that all important yellow jersey with a comfortable time cushion between himself and his closest opponent.
"Losing a minute is a bitter pill to swallow, because we worked very hard to get that advantage. I’ve still got a comfortable lead but today was a reminder that the race is still open. That lead is now two minutes 28 seconds over Belkin’s Bauke Mollema, with Contador a further 17sec down in third."
Results of stage 13:
1. Mark Cavendish (GB) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step 3:40:08"
2. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale same time
3. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin
4. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana
5. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step
6. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Saxo - Tinkoff
7. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo - Tinkoff
Selected others:
26. Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky +1:09"
70. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar +9:54"
Overall standings after stage 13:
1. Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky 51:00:30"
2. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin +2:28"
3. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo - Tinkoff +2:45"
4. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Saxo - Tinkoff +2:48"
5. Laurens ten Dam (Ned) Belkin +3:01"
Green points jersey standings after stage 13:
1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale 357
2. Mark Cavendish (GB) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step 273
3. Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Belisol 217
4. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Argos-Shimano 177
5. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha 157
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