Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid won a thrilling stage 13 of the Tour de France, outsprinting breakaway companion Harold Tejada to the line in Belfort, with Tom Pidcock finishing third and leaping up the overall standings on an excellent day for the Briton.
On the longest stage of this year’s Tour, a 206km ride from Dole to Belfort, the action was frenetic from the drop with two battles going on: the first among the sprinters for the intermediate sprint points at Melisey, and then the battle for the stage win.
An initial group of 37 riders broke away from the peloton, with their numbers swelling to 56 as Lidl-Trek’s Mads Pedersen closed down the group containing Jasper Philipsen, among his rivals for the green points jersey.
That group was ultimately whittled down to just eight after the intermediate sprint as the two categorised climbs put paid to the chances of the fast men.
Pinarello-Q36.5 rider Pidcock attacked late on the final climb, the category one Ballon d’Alsace, but was reeled in before the beginning of the descent down to the finish line.
Jayco-AlUla’s Schmid jumped from the breakaway with 15km to go, with only XDS Astana’s Tejada able to live with his pace, while a small group led by Pidcock gave chase.
The duo up front were nearly caught by a late attack by UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Tim Wellens, but launched their sprint in time with Schmid getting the better of his companion.
He celebrated the first Tour stage win by a Swiss rider in six years with a wheelie across the line, while behind Pidcock was a clear winner of the sprint for third place.
The Briton was up into virtual second place overall at one point as the general classification teams, wary of a difficult weekend to come in the mountains, gave the breakaway a wide berth.
He ultimately finished the day in fourth place, up from 11th overall, four minutes and 15 seconds off yellow jersey and reigning champion Tadej Pogacar and just 15 seconds off Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel in the final podium spot. Visma-Lease a Bike’s Jonas Vingegaard remains second overall.
It continues a strong Tour for the Briton, who was also third despite suffering a late mechanical on stage nine to Ussel.
Pinarello-Q36.5 general manager Doug Ryder said: “It’s been amazing. I don’t really have a voice left, Tom was amazing but the whole team rode so well. For us to put so many riders in the breakaway and commit was brilliant. Tom is such a fighter and he’s really turned this race upside down, he’s such an impact guy. For him to do what he did today and our team to support him, is pretty cool.”
