It was a spectacular day for the EF Pro Cycling team today at the 2020 Tour de France. Their riders showed unrivaled perseverance and teamwork, Dani Martínez took a breathtaking stage win, and the team moved back to the top position on the team classification.
The stage set off from Châtel-Guyon, faced a whopping seven categorized climbs and ended at Puy Mary, a steep volcanic climb in the Massif Central. The total elevation gain of the day was 4400m (14,400ft); the most climbing of all 21 stages in the Tour this year.
Before lining up at the start line this morning, Rigoberto Urán said, “We have a strong team, so we can try to maybe do something in the break.” And indeed the team did. It was a third day in the breakaway for our American rider, Neilson Powless, accompanied by Dani Martínez and Hugh Carthy.
The mountain stage saw early attacks from the get-to. After a high-tempo start, a five-man early breakaway turned into 17 riders, including Martínez, Carthy and Powless.
Neilson surged ahead with 40km to go at the foot of the Côte d’Anglards-de-Salers, riding ahead in a solo break as the chase group dropped behind. He was the first to cross the summit on that climb, earning him two KOM points before losing his lead to Max Schachmann of Bora–Hansgrohe.
When the chase group arrived on the Col de Nerrone, Dani Martínez together with Bora rider Lenni Kämna launched an attack behind leader Schachmann.
Reaching the base of the final climb, the Puy Mary Cantal, Martínez battled hard with Kämna glued to his wheel, catching Schachmann and pushing onward.
The three men suffered up the punishing 15% grade, the two Bora riders trailing Martínez. Schachmann fell off the back and in the final grueling meters of the day it was a head-to-head battle between Martínez and Kämna. It was Martínez who ultimately overpowered the German rider on the steep uphill sprint, sailing up over the summit finish line to victory.
To round out the team’s triumphant day, we’ve reclaimed our lead in the teams classification and Rigoberto Urán has moved up to 4th place in the overall standings.
Stage 13 Brief Results:
- Daniel Martinez (EF Pro Cycling) at 5h01’47”
- Lennard Kämna (BORA – hansgrohe) at 4″
- Maximilian Schachmann (BORA – hansgrohe) at 51″
- Valentin Madouas (Groupama – FDJ) at 1’33”
- Pierre Rolland (B&B Hotels) at 1’42”
General Classification After Stage 13:
- Primož Roglič (Team Jumbo-Visma) at 56h34’35”
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates) at 44″
- Egan Bernal Gómez (INEOS Grenadiers) at 59″
- Rigoberto Urán Urán (EF Pro Cycling) at 1’10”
- Nairo Quintana Rojas (Team Arkéa Samsic) at 1’12”
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