Stage 13 – Another Sprint Stage with Still No Change in the Green Jersey

Long flat stage from mid-Rhône Valley to Mediterranean coast of Languedoc-Roussillon.  Breakaway fails near end of day.  Sagan, Greipel & Gross fight for minor points at intermediate sprint, Sagan 7, Greipel 6, Goss 5.   Goss and Cavendish are dropped before the finish, Greipel wins stage, Sagan takes second—Greipel 45 points, Sagan 35.  Net: Greipel +9, Goss -37.  Sagan still in green jersey, Greipel moves to 2^nd place with deficit of -64 points, Goss drops to 3^rd place with deficit of -93 points.  Only three sprint stages remain.  Greipel hopes for another sprint stage victory on Monday—his birthday—in Pau.  He and his team recognize that it is very unlikely either Greipel or Goss will beat Sagan for the green jersey, but they will collect what prizes they can along the way. 

For the yellow jersey, even less change than for the green.  Nobody beat Wiggins’ time, and 43 riders finished with the same time, so there was no movement among the top 20. 

RadioShack remains in control of the Team classification, with no change today.

Tejay Van Garderen put more time on all of the young riders, except three, including Thibaut Pinot.  Pinot alone is still within striking distance for the white jersey, with a deficit that remains at -1’54”. 

 Enough about the race.  Let’s talk about the countryside along the way.  Today’s race passed within 10 miles of the famous Pont du Gard—2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct built in the days of Julius Caesar.  It is still a marvel to see!   Nearby, the stage also passed close to the Protestant coal mining town of Alès, at the doorstep to the Cévennes.  This is where Robert Louis Stevenson emerged from the mountain wilderness in his “Travels With A Donkey.”  It is also where I spent 2 months as a missionary in the spring of 1966.  [Not quite as ancient history as R. L. Stevenson, but close!]  My first introduction to the French midi—the captivating southern accent, the warm sunshine, the slower pace of life, the mighty Mistral (famous local wind), and the French version of Southern Hospitality!  Such fond memories! 

On the other side of the stage course, as it descended today, is the ancient town of Nîmes, home of several more famous Roman ruins:  The Arena, the Maison Carrée, and others.  From there the course ran through the vineyard country along the foothills of the Cévennes, until it circled the university town of Montpelier, and then descended to the coast.  The coastal towns have their little fishing ports, beaches, and tourist/resort developments.  This is a little-known slice of France, with tons of wonderful variety and charm that cannot be appreciated in a mere 5-hour bike ride, racing along at nearly 30 miles per hour.

The Pont du Gard, Roman aqueduct built around 50 B.C.  Saturday's stage 13 passed within 10 miles of this amazing structure.