Tour De France 2015: Stage 13 Route, Live Stream Schedule, TV Info for July 17

Matt JonesJul 16, 2015

After three gruelling days in the Pyrenees, the 2015 Tour de France will roll on toward the Alps on Friday, with Chris Froome looking to preserve his substantial lead atop the general classification.

Following a stunning surge to La Pierre Saint-Martin on Stage 10, the Team Sky star consolidated his lead at the top of the standings with solid performances on undulating sections on Wednesday and Thursday. But with some quality riders hanging in, don’t expect any let-up from Froome or his stellar deputies.

The 198.5-kilometre stint from Muret to Rodez should make for absorbing viewing on Friday. Here are all the key details you need on where to catch the action and what to expect from a stage which looks tailor-made for a thrilling finish.

Tactics Key On Transitional Stage 13

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Up in the Pyrenees, typically, you know what to expect from the tour. The guys in the hunt for the general classification will usually be near the front, if not winning the stage, while others in the field toil on the sun-scorched inclines of northern France. But segments like Stage 13 make for thrilling, unpredictable viewing.

Here’s a look at what to expect, courtesy of Melissa Brand:

Speaking with CyclingNews.com, former Tour de France stage winner Robert Millar revealed the conditions will play a key part in determining the stage victor:

"
Going inland from Toulouse it just gets hot, then hotter and as Rodez approaches stiflingly uncomfortable.
Perfect stage for a breakaway and until one gets away no-one will be happy, though with the last 60km being of the up and down, in and out, melted tar variety it's hard to say if it's better to be in the front or hiding at the back.
"

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Depending on how the race pans out, we could see a variety of different winners. At first glance, the gradual gradient shifts up to Rodez seem to favour a breakaway victory, but if the field bunches, as has happened plenty in this tour so far, a sharp sprinter could snatch this one.

The gradient shifts could prove too tough for Cavendish to handle.

Peter Dejong/Associated Press

If the likes of Andre Greipel and Mark Cavendish can cope with the up-and-down terrain they could potentially be in the hunt. The former will be buoyed by his intermediate sprint win on Stage 12 too. However, the man currently in possession of the green jersey, Peter Sagan, relishes these types of races and will be very tough for the other sprinters to topple.

He’s intent on keeping the iconic jersey too, as he posted after being edged out by Greipel on Thursday:

Given the final stretch of this stint is uphill, if there’s a brisk pace up front men like Sylvain Chavanel and Thomas Voeckler could tough it out. Alexander Kristoff will also fancy his chances of putting together a strong finish and will be keen to extinguish any substantial breaks at the front of the pack.

Here’s a look at how some of the fastest finishers fared in the intermediate sprint on Stage 12, per letourdata:

As for the general classification, it’s tough to see any major moves being made. Froome’s lead looks insurmountable as Paris edges closer into view and not only did he look solid on those punishing climbs in the Pyrenees, in team-mates Geraint Thomas and Richie Porte, the Brit has two tremendous talents ready to share the workload.

Stage 13 is unlikely to see any major changes in the general classification.

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Froome paid tribute to Thomas after he put in some magnificent work on Stage 12:

We’re unlikely to see any major fireworks from the peloton on Friday, with the likes of Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana likely to wait until the spiralling inclines in the Alps to make one last run at top spot.

But at this juncture, with Froome’s lead putting him just shy of three minutes ahead of Tejay van Garderen, barring something dramatic, the rest of the field are racing for second spot.

Sagan looks the most likely victor on Friday.

Laurent Cipriani/Associated Press

In terms of the stage victory, the adaptable traits of Sagan will make him the big favourite. But as the main threat, he’ll be closely monitored and will need some strong support from his Tinkoff-Saxo team-mates. If he gets that, the Slovakian has all requisite attributes to stand triumphant in Rodez.