Spanish Rider Takes Yellow After Tour's 13th Stage

This was a strange day at the Tour de France. Oscar Pereiro [Spain-Balears] started today's race in 46th place and was all but written off as a contender in this year's tour. After all, he was 28 minutes and 50 seconds out of the lead. The Peloton would never allow anyone to make up that kind of time would they? Well, they did today.

Pereiro joined Jens Voigt [Germany-CSC], Sylvain Chavanel [France-Cofidis], Manuel Quinziato [Italy-Liquigas] and several other riders in a breakaway from the Peloton. The other riders eventually fell off, but these four just kept increasing their lead on the Peloton until it was over 25 minutes. Voigt wound up winning a sprint to the finish, with Pereiro finishing second. Forty seconds later, Chavanal and Quinziato crossed the line finishing third and fourth.

The Peloton crossed the finish line 29 minutes and 57 seconds later. That gave the Yellow Jersey to Pereiro. He had started the day in 46th place and finished it in 1st place. A remarkable effort! But there's still a week to go and they hit the Alps in a couple of days. This race is far from over.

Stage 14 runs from Montelimar to Gap in the foothills of the Alps. It is a 180.5 kilometer [112.5 mile] ride with two catagory 3 and two catagory 2 climbs.

Overall Standings:

1. Pereiro [Spain-Balears]..........Yellow Jersey
2. Landis [USA-Phonak]..........1:29
3. Dessel [France-AG2R]..........1:37
4. Menchov [Russia-Rabobank]..........2:30
5. Evans [Australia-Lotto]..........2:46
6. Sastre [Spain-CSC]..........3:21
7. Kloden [Germany-Tmobile]..........3:58
8. Rogers [Australia-Tmobile]..........4:51
9. Mercado [Spain-Agritubel]..........5:02
10. Moreau [France-AG2R]..........5:13
11. Popovych [Ukraine-Discovery]..........5:44

15. Leipheimer [USA-Gerolsteiner]..........7:08
21. Azevedo [Portugal-Discovery]..........9:11
29. Vandevelde [USA-CSC]..........15:10
41. Hincapie [USA-Discovery]..........24:28

Team Standings:

1. CSC
2. Balears..........15:53
3. T-mobile..........22:05
4. Gerolsteiner..........22:51
5. AG2R..........27:05
10. Discovery..........44:45

Polka-Dot Jersey:

1. De La Fuente [Spain-Saunier]..........80 points
2. Dessel [France-AG2R]..........62 points
3. Wegmann [Germany-Gerolsteiner]..........61 points
4. Rasmussen [Denmark-Rabobank]..........61 points
5. Mercado [Spain-Agritubel]..........45 points
9. Landis [USA-Phonak]..........35 points

Green Jersey:

1. McEwen [Australia-Lotto]..........252 points
2. Boonen [Belgium-Quickstep]..........222 points
3. Freire [Spain-Rabobank]..........207 points
4. Bennati [Italy-Lampre]..........192 points
5. Zabel [Germany-Milram]..........172 points