Today’s stage of the Tour de France from Muret to Rodez could be interesting. On paper, it looks like it should suit sprinters. There are just three categorised climbs along the way, one Category Three, the Cote de Saint-Cirgue and two Category Four climbs, the Cote de la Pomparie and the Cote de la Selve. The final climb comes thirty kilometres before the finish, so if any sprinters were dropped, there’s enough time to get back on.

However, there’s a sting in the tail with this stage. The finish in Rodez has a 600m climb at 10%. So, will it be too hard for the pure sprinters like Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel, and be better suited to Peter Sagan? Cavendish has stated that he feels the climb will be too difficult for him to contest.

There’s also a danger that a breakaway could stay away, if no team is interested in taking up the chase. Even though they hold the yellow jersey, Team Sky won’t be interested in putting in a concerted effort at the front of the bunch to pull back a break, so it could be up to Tinkoff-Saxo to work at the front, if they feel Sagan is in with a chance.

Tour de France Stage 13 Profile

Tour de France Stage 13 Map

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