Nat Bromhead
Peter Sagan claimed the eleventh Tour de France stage win of his career after outsprinting Alexander Kristoff and Arnaud Démare at the end of Stage 13 overnight.
In a heavily depleted field after three brutal alpine stages, just 152 riders started the stage in the famous cycling town of Bourg d’Oisans near the foot of Alpe D’Huez.
Sagan takes third stage win of 2018 event
It was the Slovakian’s third stage win of this year’s Tour – equalling his all-time TDF record. It was Sagan’s 42nd Tour de France stage podium, equalling the highly-respected Gustave Garrigou, Francis Pélissier and Sean Kelly’s records.
Peter Sagan now enjoys the comfortable buffer of 228 points lead in Green Jersey contest, the Stage 13 win putting him a step closer to taking the jersey all the way to Paris.
Stage 14 Preview – The ‘Airport Runway Stage’
Tonight’s punchy finale in Mende will surely be one to watch – and has been described by organisers as “one of the most spectacular in the modern era of the Tour de France.”
After missing out on the stage win in Mende three years ago, Romain Bardet is expected to push hard in the 3km, 10% climb to the Mende airport runway.
Race Leader Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas – along with team leader (and Team Sky’s designated rider) Chris Froome – will no-doubt race defensively before the start of the major Pyrenean stages next week.
