What the day brings at the Tour de France

The 109th Tour de France leaves the Alps, and the duel between yellow jersey Jonas Vingegaard and the Slovenian defending champion Tadej Pogacar continues.

The Dane is 2:22 minutes ahead of Pogacar, with former Tour champion Geraint Thomas in the lead. The stars can take a breather today.

Hope for the sprinters

On the 13th stage over 192.6 kilometres from Le Bourg d'Oisans to Saint-Etienne, only two third and one second category mountains await. The sprinters have one of the few chances of a mass finish. However, the sprinters' teams would have to work hard for this, as breakaways are likely to hope for a stage win. Just like in 2019, when Belgian Thomas De Gendt triumphed solo in Saint-Etienne.

Battle for yellow

Last year the Tour was virtually decided after the first weekend in the Alps, but this time it's very exciting. Seven riders are within 4:07 minutes of each other. And Pogacar, who broke away on the Col du Granon, already delivered a foretaste of the Pyrenees on the climb to the cycling Mecca of Alpe d'Huez. "Now it's up to me to attack. Of course Jonas is impressive, but we will fight each other to the end. I will give it my all," announced Pogacar. Vingegaard is prepared for this: "I have huge confidence in my team. But it always comes down to a man-to-man battle with Pogacar at some point."

Oldies

Four-time Tour champion Chris Froome showed his old class once again with third place in Alpe d'Huez. "I felt better and better. I tried my luck and gave it my all. I have no regrets," said the 37-year-old. Meanwhile, Simon Geschke, who is a year younger, defended his mountain jersey for another day. "Many riders are chasing my jersey. I'm happy that I was able to keep it for a fourth day in a row. But I don't see myself wearing the jersey in Paris yet," said the Berlin-born rider.

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