Thor Hushovd wins 13th the stage and Thomas Voeckler keeps yellow jersey in 2011 Tour de France
Garmin-Cervelo team’s World Champion, Thor Hushovd, took his ninth tour stage victory in the thirteen stage of 2011 Tour de France on Friday, July 15. Thomas Voeckler maintained his overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The race started in Pau and ended in Lourdes. The 33-year-old Norwegian cyclists took a total of 3 hours, 47 minutes and 36 seconds to cover the distance of 156 kilometres.
After winning the stage, Thor said, "Winning alone on a hard day like this when we went over the Col d'Aubisque and doing it wearing the rainbow jersey is, I think, incredible. I'm just so happy now. It's the most beautiful stage I've won on the Tour de
France, for sure."
David Moncoutie of Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne was the runner-up with 10 seconds behind Thor. Jeremy Roy of FDJ finished third with a difference of 26 seconds.
A group of ten riders made their first breakaway which included Thomas Voeckler, Thor Hushovd, Maarten Tjallingii, Dmitriy Fofonov (Astana), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky), Jérôme Pineau (Quick Step), David Moncoutie (Cofidis), Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD),
Lars Bak (HTC-Highroad) and Vladimir Gusev (Katusha).
Tjallingii increase his pace and join his team-mate, Lars Boom, in the front of the race. Although, Boasson Hagen lead the group of ten riders, after a few kilometres to go Hushovd launched attack from the back of the group. Roy maintained his pace and managed
to make right move behind the Norwegian.
After nine kilometres, Hushovd caught and dropped by Moncoutie and Roy got away. While Roy gained an advantage over the Soulor pass. Hushovd increased his pace and caught Moncoutie and trio managed to trim back Roy lead. Finally, Thor made a right move and
took his stage victory ahead of other riders.
Thomas further added, “It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever done. I was happy to be in the break and I was obviously strong. I attacked on the climb just to do my own rhythm and my goal was to come back on the descent which I finally did.”
Edvald Boasson Hagen took the title of Best young riders ahead of Bauke Mollema and Tony Gallopin. FDJ rider Jeremy Roy took the title of most aggressive ride.
Thomas Voeckler took an overall lead with the timing of 55 hours, 49 minutes and 57 seconds. Frank Schleck of Leopard the was runner-up with 1 minute and 49 seconds behind Frenchmen.
Cadel Evans was in the third place with a difference of 2 minutes and 6 seconds.
The next stage will start in Saint-Gaudens and end in Plateau de Beille. All the cyclists will cover the distance of 168 kilometres.
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