Julian Alaphilippe turned in an unexpectedly strong performance to win the Stage 13 individual time trial of the 2019 Tour de France. Alaphilippe bested defending champion Geraint Thomas by 14 seconds, solidifying his GC lead on the symbolic day of the 100th birthday of the yellow jersey.
Kasper Asgreen sets a time of reference
166 riders started the individual time trial in Pau. Four time world champion Tony Martin showed straight away that he wasn’t on a winning mood this time as he’s got other priorities as a domestique for Jumbo-Visma on this Tour de France. He was quickly overtaken by Chad Haga (Sunweb) and Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck-Quick Step) who had left the starting ramp one and two minutes after him. The American rider almost caught Yoann Offredo (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), the first man on the road who started four minutes before him but it was Asgreen who set the first time of reference at the finish in 35’52’’ at the average speed of 46.2km/h. Hot favourite Stefan Küng crashed in a curve at the beginning of the race. The Swiss champion missed out on his chances to deliver a first stage victory to Groupama-FDJ.
Thomas De Gendt with the provisional best time
Although Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Merida) and Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) scored faster times at the time check after 7.7km, it was Belgium’s Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) who dethroned Asgreen from the hot seat at 46.5km/h after he saw his compatriot and national champion Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) on the ground. 1.1km before the end, it was a serious crash for the winner of stage 10 in Albi who was taken to hospital by ambulance. Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) who was holding good intermediate time checks crashed in the same curve and reached the finishing line with great difficulty.
Alaphilippe wins his duel against Thomas
The race of the GC contenders was another story. Rigoberto Uran (EF Education First) came close to dethroning De Gendt. At the first time check after 7.7km, Alaphilippe had the best time with an advantage of 6’’ over Thomas. It was the same difference between the first two riders on GC at the top of the côte d’Esquillot (km 15.5). The Frenchman continued to dominate the race even on the flatter section on the way back to Pau. He managed to beat Thomas by 14’’ and extend his lead in the overall ranking on the symbolic day of the 100th birthday of the yellow jersey.
Rohan Dennis Mystery
The stage ran under a cloud of mystery after yesterday’s unexpected abandonment of TT World Champion Rohan Dennis (Bahrain Merida), who was expected to turn in a strong performance in his debut in the World Champion’s rainbow jersey.
Dennis stopped with the feed-zone support car with 84km to go yesterday without communicating with team management. He has not spoken to the press, only issuing a statement that said, “given my current feeling it was the right decision to withdraw.” His team is still addressing what they call a “complicated situation”.
Stage 13 Brief Results:
- Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck – Quick Step) at 35’00”
- Geraint Thomas (Team Ineos) at 14”
- Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) at 36″
- Rigoberto Uran (EF Education First) at s.t.
- Richie Porte (Trek Segafredo) at 45″
General Classification After Stage 13:
- Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck – Quick Step) at 53h01’09”
- Geraint Thomas (Team Ineos) at 1’26”
- Steven Kruijswijk (Team Jumbo-Visma) at 2’12”
- Enric Mas (Deceuninck – Quick Step) at 2’44”
- Egan Bernal (Team Ineos) at 2’52”
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