Andre Greipel overcame Peter Sagan and registered his third Tour de France 2012 stage win
Andre Greipel is enjoying the best season of his professional career with over a dozen stage victories in to his credit before joining Team Lotto-Belisol squad for the Tour de France.
The German claimed his third stage victory at the French race during the 217 kilometre stage 13 of the race, on Saturday, with a photo-finish over his main point’s classifications rival Peter Sagan of Team Liquigas-Cannondale.
“It was very close. I was next to last over the climb. But the team worked great and brought me up to the front. This win is a special one with the Mont St Clair [climb] so close to the finish”.
"I managed to hang on in this climb and then Lars Bak took me back in the bunch. It was once again great team work and we deserved this".
Sagan also has three Tour stages in his pocket, including the first, third and the sixth stage of the race and was leading the overall point’s classifications before Greipel stole the show in the deciding last kilometre of stage 13
Edvald Boasson Hagen of Team Sky finished third with Sebastien Hinault of Team AG2R La Mondiale and Daryl Impey of Team Orica GreenEdge holding the third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.
Andre now holds the second spot after the stage 13 classifications with 232 points to his credit. Peter Sagan is still leading the category with a maximum of 296 points.
Peter Sagan, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Tejay Van Garderen, Thibaut Pinot and Davide Malacarne were the top five young riders on the day.
Bradley Wiggins remains in the yellow jersey for the sixth consecutive day with his compatriot Christopher Froome of holding the second spot.
"It was just the last kilometre, slightly downhill. It was the safest place to be and I wanted to try to repay a friend of mine," Wiggins said.
Vincenzo Nibali is 2 minute and 23 seconds behind Bradley at the third spot while Cadel Evans of Team BMC is further 56 seconds behind at the third spot.
Team RadioShack-Nissan is leading the team’s classifications with Team Sky, Team Astana, Team BMC and Team Movistar occupying the second, third, fourth and the fifth positions respectively.
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