Sprinter Wins Mountainous Stage 13

Stage 13 of the Tour de France turned out to be something of a surprise. For one thing the leaders of the race did not take the opportunity presented by the very difficult unrated climb to the top of the Col d' Abisque to attack and try to gain time on each other. Evidently they are waiting for tomorrow's unrated climb, or the difficult stages in the Alps coming early next week. But the real surprise was that such a difficult mountain stage was won by a sprinter -- a feat that is almost unheard of in the Tour de France. Usually the high mountains breaks sprinters instead of giving them a chance to win.

But Norwegian Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) refused today to accept Tour history that said he couldn't win a stage with an unrated climb. Hushovd has had 8 stage wins in the past, but they have all been flat stages that he won with his powerful sprint at the end. Today was different.

Hushovd joined a breakaway with about 10 other riders about a third of the way into the race, and they were able to separate themselves from the peloton. When they reached the base of the huge unrated climb they had about a 4 minute lead on the peloton. That's when Hushovd decided to attack. He was able to separate himself from the other riders for a while on the difficult climb, but then was caught and passed by two French riders. He was able to hang on and top the mountain in third place though.

From that point, most of the rest of the race was downhill. Hushovd, a good descender, then began to chase down the French riders. He caught the first fairly soon, and then blew by the other only 2 kilometers from the finish for the amazingly improbable win by a sprinter in a high mountain stage. The second place finisher was France's David Moncoutie (Cofidis) and third was taken by France's Jeremy Roy (FDJ).

Tomorrow is the last stage in the Pyrenees. It is an incredibly difficult 168.5 kilometer ride from Saint-Gaudens to Plateau de Beille, with a category 3 climb, two category 2 climbs, two category 1 climbs, and the race finishes at the top of an unrated climb. It will take a very strong climber to win stage 14.

Here are the current standings:

YELLOW JERSEY (INDIVIDUAL LEADER)
1. Thomas Voeckler, France (Europcar)
2. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg (Leopard-Trek)..........1' 49"
3. Cadel Evans, Australia (BMC Racing)..........2' 06"
4. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg (leopard-Trek)..........2' 17"
5. Ivan Basso, Italy (Liquigas)..........3' 16"
6. Damiano Cunego, Italy (Lampre)..........3' 22"
7. Alberto Contador, Spain (Saxo Bank)..........4' 00"
8. Samuel Sanchez, Spain (Euskaltel-Euskadi)..........4' 11"
9. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium (Omega-Lotto)..........4' 35"
10. Tom Danielson, USA (Garmin-Cervelo)..........4' 35"
17. Levi Leipheimer, USA (Radio Shack)..........7' 51"


GREEN JERSEY (SPRINTERS)
1. Mark Cavendish, Great Britain (HTC-Highroad)........264 pts
2. Jose Joaquin Rojas, Spain (Movistar)........251
3. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium (Omega-Lotto)........240 pts
4. Thor Hushovd, Norway (Garmin-Cervelo)........192 pts
5. Andre Greipel, Germany (Omega-Lotto)........164 pts


POLKA DOT JERSEY (CLIMBERS)
1. Jeremy Roy, France (FDJ)..........45 pts
2. Samuel Sanchez, Spain (Euskaltel-Euskadi)..........40 pts
3. Jelle Vanendert, Belgium (Omega-Lotto)..........34 pts
4. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg (Leopard-Trek)..........24 pts
5. Johnny Hoogerland, Netherlands (Vacansoleil)..........22 pts


TEAM STANDINGS
1. Garmin-Cervelo (USA)
2. Leopard Trek (Luxembourg)..........05"
3. Europcar (France)..........1' 25"
4. AG2R (France)..........2' 26"
5. Katusha (Russia)..........2' 39"
6. Radio Shack (USA)..........4' 28"