The peloton takes it a little easier today after two mega mountain stages, leaving the door open for a breakaway win in Stage 13 by all-arounder fastman Mads Pedersen of Trek Segafredo. Pedersen’s teammate, American Quinn Simmons, helped the Dane into the lead breakaway at around 51km left in the race. A fast pace whittled away the competition until Pedersen and two others – Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) and Hugo Houle (Israel-Premier Tech) – remained. The rider from Trek-Segafredo was the clear class of the group, and he won a final sprint by a comfortable margin.

No major changes unfolded in the GC battle. Louis Meintjes (IWG) and Chris Froome (IPT) continue to sneak up the rankings. But the serious contending trio of Jonas Vingegaard (JV), Tadej Pogacar (UAE), and Geraint Thomas (IGD) hold their positions at 1, 2, 3 in the overall classification. Former GC hopeful Primoz Roglic (JV) continues to bleed seconds as the GC focus of Jumbo Visma is firmly fixed on Vingegaard.

Elsewhere in the race Wout Van Aert (JV) holds onto the green jersey. Jumbo Visma’s grand ambition of collecting the yellow and green jerseys looks like a real possibility.

Simon Geschke (Cofidis) holds onto the polka dots jersey, though his King of the Mountains position will be in jeopardy once the major GC contenders hit the next set of major mountains, likely stages 17 and 18. Americans Sepp Kuss (JV) and Neilson Powless (EF) maintain close position in the overall rankings, 17th and 18th respectively.

In other news, keep the dogs off the course.