Tour de France 2010: stage 13 - as it happened!

Today's 196km run from Rodez to Revel in the south of France looks to be another one for the sprinters with Norway's Thor Hushovd having an opportunity to solidify his lead in the race for maillot vert before the final sprint into the Tour's finish at the Champs Elysee. Mark Cavendish, short of his leadout man Mark Renshaw after the Australian's fine impression of a butting stag on stage 11, may struggle to get into position without his muscle. 1.28pm: Afternoon. I've had my fill of Germanic electro 80s synth-pop now. There aren't enough songs about cycling are there? Ah well, there's a riff to be getting on with while I get ready to tell you what's happened so far. 1.40pm: Firstly, before the race even began, back in the neutral zone Lance Armstrong crashed for only the 1,187th time this Tour, or so it seems. The seven-time Tour winner's got more bruises than the apple I've had festering in the bottom of my rucksack for the past week. And then, as per usual, a trio made an attempt at a breakaway. It's a pretty strong trio of Juan Antonio Flecha, Sylvain Chavanel and Fedrigo Pierrick, who have all won stages of the Tour de France. With 116km remaining they're 5min 12sec ahead, but the commentators on TV, who admittedly know much more about cycling tactics than me, reckon they will be reigned in by the chasing peleton without too much difficulty. 1.42pm: Yesterday's finish to stage 12 was particularly dramatic. A steep climb up to the finish provided a fantastic opportunity to see the difference in climbing styles between the yellow jersey wearer, Andy Schleck, and the current Tour champion, Alberto Contador. Contador's aggressive style was in stark contrast to Schleck, who is more adept on longer climbs. But Schleck will be mighty relieved to have lost only 10 seconds after, at one point, looking like he was cooked as Contador took off. 1.46pm: The gap between the peloton and the breakaway group is 5min 02sec. Lampre are doing the majority of the work at the front of the peleton, with Alessandro Petacchi desperately hunting down points to try and regain the green jersey from Thor Hushovd. 1.55pm: The riders, who look as laid back as if they're popping off to the shops to get the Sunday morning newspapers, are averaging a speed of around 44km per hour. Just to let you know how fast that is watch this video . At times yesterday, they reached 70km per hour while descending. I hardly get up to that speed when I'm on the M6. But that's probably because I drive a P reg Polo. 1.58pm: Flecha, Chavanel and Fedrigo are still out on their own 4min 37sec ahead. Thor Hushovd is having his brakes fixed by a mechanic while cycling along at around 40km per hour. How the hell the little bald guy who is leaning out of the car is managing to do a patch up job is beyond me. 2.00pm: If you want to take a look at what looks like a right wing political tool for keeping marriages together in a dystopian future then here it is . It's the HTC Tour team tracker. You can watch coloured dots inching their way along a screen. It's like Pac-Man, but with better graphics. 4min 31sec between the peloton and the breakaway. 2.09pm: How will Mark Cavendish do without his leadout man? Mark Renshaw has been like the big, tough lad at school who does all the groundwork in a fights before the little angry lad pops out from behind him and lands the knockout blow on the sly. 4min50sec betwen the peloton and the breakaway. 2.15pm: There's 90.7km to go. Lampre and HTC are heading the peloton's attempts to reel in the breakaway group. They've brought them back to 4min 40sec now after upping the pace on the winding downhill roads between Realmont and Lautrec. 2.17pm: The Garmin rider Tyler Farrar has just been trying to sell me some transition glasses in the ad break. Apparently they help his eyes to adjust when he's cycling. But not enough to stop him from crashing his bike and breaking his wrist on stage 2, forcing him to retire from the Tour a couple of days ago. 2.22pm: At last, an email: "I have not been following the Tour de France for long, writes Niall Brooks, "but it seems to me Contador made a big mistake yesterday. Surely he should have agreed with the other guy [Joaquin Rodriguez] that they would race for the line as fast as possible helping each other, then Contador would let him win the stage. It seems to me he lost about 10 seconds on Schleck by messing around in the last kilometer setting up the sprint. Can anyone explain that?" I'll open that up to the hordes of readers out there Niall. From what I saw of the race yesterday it seems to me he was climbing in bursts because he was having to regain the strength to push on. However, I do agree that shaving only 10 seconds off Schleck seems like an opportunity missed. 2.27pm: The village of Lautrec is ridiculously pretty. Which couldn't be said for this Lautrec , regardless of how great his brush strokes might have been. The peloton is 4min 07sec behind the breakaway riders, who are still gamely pushing on. I suspect they will be caught slowly over the next hour now. 77.9km remaining. 2.34pm: There's not an awful lot happening at the moment. Lampre and HTC are taking it turns to take up the strain at the front of the peloton and nobody is dropping back from the breakaway or breaking out from the peloton. But it gives me the opportunity to dig out an email. 2.38pm: "Enjoying the tour from Sydney where it gets heavy coverage due to some Aussie bloke that's doing quite well," writes Claire Garner, promting me to look for an Australian who is doing particularly well but not find one. "Anyway, they've just shown some guy dropping back to ride alongside the team car so that he can 'answer the call of nature'. How does that work? Surely it would be better to not have an audience?" Well Claire, my dad, who is a bit of a veteran cyclist and is doing the Liverpool to Chester bike ride tomorrow morning, reckons they just go in their kecks (ala Paula Radcliffe because they just don't have the time to stop). But, if a cyclist did drop back to 'go' perhaps he stuck something down there to catch it. Personally, I reckon they're probably too dehydrated to be needing to go in the four hours that they're cycling. Readers? Can anybody enlighten us to how professional cyclists spend a penny? The gap is now 4min04sec. 2.41pm: With 71km to go the breakaway group of Flecha, Chavanel and Fedrigo are descending at an alarming speed as the peloton just come to the top of the gradual 4.3km category four hill. I'll have a better idea of the gap, which I suspect has shortened, when the pack descends. 2.48pm: HTC's Bernhard Eisel has just got up to a whopping 70km per hour as he comes to the front of the peloton. He is being picked out as the man who may deputise for Mark Renshaw in the HTC train when Mark Cavendish gets in position for the inevitable sprint finsih to this stage. Here's the HTC team tracker thingummybob if you want to watch those dots inch through France. 2.50pm: The peloton are shaving yet more time off the leading three. There's a 3min 25sec gap now. They're being updated by timeboards flung into their faces by passing motocyclists so they will be aware that they are losing time. They will need to keep the gap at no less than three minutes for the next 20km or so if they hope to have any chance of staying out there at the finish. 2.52pm: The breakaway trio is passing through another beautifully ramshackle village called Puylaurens. I'm a big fan of houses that look like they might fall over if you sneeze in them. I'm sure they cost a fortune to maintain, mind. That gap's down to 3min 10sec. Eisel's doing good work at the front of the chasing pack. 2.55pm: "I've just clicked on that Columbia tracky thingy and they seem to be cycling through a field," writes Sally Ledger, building up to something. "Has Renshaw's expulsion resulted in more desperate tactics than we previously realised?" 3pm: Flecha, Chavanel and Fedrigo are struggling now over these undulating hills. The pack have got them down to 2min15sec is next to no time. There's still 58km to go too, so they could be back together within the next 20km. 3.05pm: The discussion on the telly is that of Bradley Wiggins and his difficulty to live up to the standard he set last year when he finished fourth. But, in the office, Rob Smyth is talking about football and the one-two. Namely, does a one-two have to be only two touches. Or can a pass that a player runs on to and carries up a wing before playing back to the same player, be classified as a one-two? The reason for the question is a future Joy of Six. So if you can help define a one-two let me know and I'll pass your opinions on. The gap's down to 2min now. 3.08pm: There's just been an interview with Australia's Robbie McKewen which was recorded before today's stage. He might well be the most depressed looking man I've ever seen. He was so downbeat about the whole Tour. " It's boring ... I'm not in good shape ... I'm not well." Just retire Robbie and have a big old rest, bleedin' hell. The gap's down to 1min 57sec. Team Sky's Flecha is leading the breakaway in an attempt to stop leaking time to the chasing pack. 3.09pm: Mark Cavendish has just told a cameraman to get lost. 3.10pm: How do Tour riders go to the toilet? Jamie Rhodes has the answer: "There are two standard methods. The first, usually employed in lower stress moments of the race, is to get an agreement amongst anyone who needs to go to stop together, so as to make the chase back to the peloton an easier group effort. Thus one will often see a line of cyclists leaning from the bikes at the side of the road. The other method is to urinate on the move. This often, but not necessarily, involves a team-mate pushing you to keep your momentum on the bike. Then a simple case of pulling your shorts down and 'going' on the move, one hand on the handlebars to keep a straight line. Famous cyclist Rik Van Looy allegedly used to urinate on opponents to intimidate them. Of course, as well, you could just piss yourself. Hope this helps." It does Jamie, thanks. 3.13pm: I still can't get over Van Looy's urination intimidation technique. Has any sports star ever used a more bonkers method of gaining an advantage? The breakaway group of Flecha, Chavanel and Fedrigo have momentarily plugged the time-leak. The gap is sticking at around 1min 55sec. 3.16pm: Cavendish's HTC team have formed a train at the front of the chasing pack to up the pace again. 3.20pm: Here's Gary Naylor: "Re Mr Brooks's point at 2.22pm, it's unlikely yesterday that Contador would have been doing anything other than making a little statement to Schleck about what is to come in the Pyrenees. But a GC man and a climber getting away can be useful. In the old days, the GC man would sell the stage to the climber (ie offering to the climber the stage in return for the fullest possible shared effort and hence making the biggest gap back to the peloton). Negotiations could be complex and quite animated, with appearance fees at criteriums and contracts for next season in play. Alas, team radios have spoiled such fun, along with removing the need for the kind of race craft at which the likes of patrons such as Bernard Hinault and Eddy Merckx excelled." Thanks Gary. Technology has taken the fun out of so much of modern life, hasn't it? For instance, I used to quite enjoy getting lost in new places, but GPS maps on phones have put paid to that. Thew world is a smaller less interesting place thanks to technology. 3.25pm: James Powers comes out in support of Farrah Tyler: "Tyler had a crash on stage two (along with everyone else on the Garmin Team) and broke his wrist, he rode with a broken wrist until stage 13 when he abandoned and sprinted to two third places in that time. Pretty impressive I'd say. Almost as impressive as David Millar riding with two broken ribs and a fever and Evans riding with a broken elbow. If you watch the coverage you'll see the cyclist stop by the side of the road for a piss. Apparently except for one Astana guy who does it on the bike whilst supported by a team-mate cos he gets camera shy." Some men can't even go in public urinals, James, so I'm not surprised you get some shy types on the Tour. There's 39.7km to go and the HTC train has reeled the front three in to 1min30sec now. 3.28pm: Mark Renshaw has told the Tour's official website that he reckons Mark Cavendish will stick with Thor Hushovd towards the end of today's stage and wait for Bernhard Eisel to play the leadout role that he had played before he was thrown out for headbutting Julian Dean. 3.31pm: The gap to the breakaway group is under one minute now. The HTC riders have shaved time off the lead without having to expend too sweat buckets either. Pretty impressive stuff ... 3.32pm: The peloton has stretched out into a huge snake as Tony Martin takes the pace up to 61km per hour at the front. "Sylvain Chavanel seems to have been in almost every break of this year's Tour," writes Josh Robinson. "Has he won the combativity prize yet this year? And can any of the resident stattos confirm whether anyone else who's not had a chance in the GC has ever been in so many breakaways on flattish stages?" Resident stattos? Can you help Josh out? 3.35pm: Gary Naylor is a man's man. "The main thing about taking a piss whilst on the bike is not to get anything caught in the spokes." Steering things away from toiletry requirements, the gap is almost down to 42sec. The peloton will almost be able to see the breakaway three soon. 3.37pm: Who is going to win the GC in this year's Tour? Does anybody really think Schleck can hang on through the Pyrenees? 3.39pm: I'm off to spend a penny. Back shortly. 36sec gap. 3.44pm: The gap is holding out at 36sec as the riders of Team Sky, Quickstep and BBox squeeze every last ounce of coverage oiut of their time out at the front. Gary Naylor has an answer for Josh Robinson: "Jacky Durand." 3.47pm: There's only 21.7km remaining. There's a small climb before the run in to the end of the stage in Revel which could stretch out the pack and make for a less bunched sprint to the finish line. 3.50pm: Andy Schleck's Saxo Bank team and Alberto Contador's Astana have joined HTC and Lampre at the front of the peloton in order to ensure their riders don't get caught up in any rough stuff near the finish. 3.55pm: They're descending at a rate before hitting the 10km climb up towards the finish. There's 16.7km left and the HTC riders are gathering together to discuss tactics for the finale. There's still a gap of around 28sec to Chavanel, Flecha and Fedrigo. 3.55pm: "In the spirit of the current conversation shouldn't you be developing the best way to spend a penny while conducting a minute by minute?" asks Niall Brooks. "I think a swivel chair could be very useful in this regard." Niall, Paolo Bandini's sat next to me. He's a lovely lad but much bigger than I. I'd be in hospital if I tried such a stunt. Gap's down to 26sec. 3.57pm: Crash action! Although it's not all that exciting. What I mean is, it's a great relief taht nobody has been hurt. Jesus Hernandez of Astana clips somebody's wheel and crashes to the deck. He rolls twice and gets to his feet and is soon back on again. Well played Jesus. As you were. 4.00pm: Gap down to 16sec. The breakaway group are going to be caught before the climb. 4.01pm: "Fingers crossed Chavanel can hold out for a stage win today - he's a dreamboat!" Phwooar's Katy Cherry. He may be a dreamboat Katy, but I suspect your man is going to be caught as they dig in up this hill with 9km remaining. 4.03pm: Flecha is caught by the peloton. And meanwhile, Lance Armstrong has been left behind in a second group behind the peloton, which is 30-strong. 4.04pm: Chavanael and Fedrigo are caught too. 8.6km left. 4.04pm: Allessandro Ballan of BMC bursts clear by about 30 metres or so from an HTC rider. Nicholas Roach of Ireland is in pursuit, while the rest of the pack hold off. 4.06pm: Astana's Alexandre Vinokourov has split from the pack and is in pursuit of Ballan too. HTC remain at the head of the pack, where Mark Cavendish is waiting. 4.07pm: Ballan is making a mighty effort, but Vinokourov heads after him at full steam with 7.5km left. 4.07pm: Vinokourov has overtaken Ballan, who looks to be knackered after his effort uphill. 4.08pm: Vinokourov looks to be going for victory on his own. He's opened up at a 12sec advantage with 5km left and is descending at a speed after some fantastic uphill work. Ballan has been caught by the peloton. 4.09pm: Vinkorouv really went after the victory yesterday but doesn't look to have suffered too much. His team-mate Thomas Voeckler has broke off from the peloton in the chase and is 14sec behind. The peloton is 25sec behind Vinokourov who is leaving it late at every corner before breaking on his descent. 4.12pm: Vinokourov is wearing the colour red on his shoulder to mark him out as the most aggressive rider yesterday and is going at it here with just 1.5km left. 4.13pm: The gap between Vinokourov and the peloton is insurmountable with just 1km left. He looks to be clear to the finish after a remarkable turn of pace. 4.14pm: There's no challenge for Vinokourov with 250m left. He goes clear over the line brilliantly after leaving the field behind by 13 seconds. 4.15pm: Mark Cavendish has the legs among the group riders to finish second in the sprint. 4.16pm: HTC had no answer to Astana's Vinokourov. He blitzed the field with 7km to go and looked strong all the way to the finish. That was a surprise end on a stage that looked, to all the world, to be made for a bunch finish. 4.18pm: Thor Hushovd could only make eighth so the green jersey is still up for grabs, with Petacchi closing in on the Norwegian. Vinokourov, meanwhile, is in tears after winning that stage. 4.20pm: Well, what was boring stage, came to life at the end. Schleck keeps his 31sec advantage over Contador after both finished in the same time split. Mark Cavendish moves up to 162 points, Alessandro Petacchi to 187 points and Thor Hushovd on 189 in the battle for the green jersey. 4.23pm: Thanks for your emails. Vinokourov has just said that it was his son asking why he didn't win yesterday that spurred him on to victory today. Aww! Thanks for all your emails. You can follow stage 14 here tomorrow. Mind how you go, not that the riders do.