While Stage 13 will feature that same mountainous profile as Stage 12, the route from Saint-Girons to Foix will be uptempo from the start, measuring less than half the distance than the previous stage.
Stage 13 will only cover 101 kilometers, but with three category 1 climbs, the peloton will be pushing the pace and employing their climbing legs on day 14 at the 104th Tour de France.
Riders will depart from the village of Saint-Girons in France's Ariege department, and quickly begin a gradual ascent to the foot of their first categorized climb of the day.
Before the field reaches their first climb of the day at the Col de Latrape, the will come to the first, and only, intermediate sprint point of the day in the quaint village of Seix. At only 13.5 kilometers into an already short stage, teams will undoubtedly be looking to achieve good positioning from the start of the stage and working to help their sprinter capture 20 points towards the green jersey in Seix.
25 kilometers into the stage, riders will reach the foot of their first of three category 1 climbs of the day in the commune of Ustou.
This climb up the Col de Latrape will be the least difficult of the day, but the ascent of 5.6 kilometers at an average gradient of 7.3% will be anything but easy, and will surely be full of attacks from riders hoping to separate themselves from the peloton on the first significant climb of the day.
After a 5 kilmeter descent from the summit of the Col de Latrape into Aulus-les-Bains, the field will face their second, and most demanding, categorized climb of the day to the summit of the Col d'Agnes.
The ascent to the top of the Col d'Agnes will cover a grueling 10 kilometers, which rises up to an altitude of 1,570 meters above sea level at an average incline of 8.2%. This section of Stage 13 will be integral for the general classification contenders to stay in comfortably in contact with the lead, as they do not want to lose valuable seconds on the time gap.
Over the next 17 kilometers, riders will quickly descend over 900 meters before reaching the start of their third, and final, climb of the day in the bucolic village of Massat.
The final categorized climb of the day, to the summit of the Mur de Peguere will take the riders to an altitude of 1,375 meters over 9.3 kilometers at just under an 8% average gradient. This final climb of the day will likely be an indicator of which riders will be in contention at the front of the race in the final kilometers.
The remaining 27 kilometers of the race will involve a steep, technical descent down to Foix. Through this section riders will likely reach top speeds over 80 kilometers-per-hour, and must make the difficult decision of balancing how many risks they will take in search of gaining extra seconds on the rest of the field.
The last kilometer of the stage will continue to be on a decline, and the stage winner will likely be the rider who is able to take the most chances without crashing, as well as having enough power in their legs in the final kilometers.
Watch out for Chris Froome (Team Sky) on Stage 13. Froome lost the Maillot Jaune to Fabio Aru (Astana) on Stage 12, and will be more than happy to take it back on Stage 13. While it would be no easy task to immediately win back the yellow jersey on a short Stage 13, Chris Froome has proven he is one of the best all-rounder in cycling history. Froome has captured three titles at the Tour de France and is the defending champion, making the loss of the yellow jersey for the first time after capturing it from teammate Geraint Thomas after Stage 5 all the more harrowing for the British rider. Froome touched speeds surpassing 87 kilometers-per-hour on Stage 12, and is one of professional cycling's best technical descenders. With a short Stage 13 that allows for less time to be made up on the climbs, the ability to descend fast and clean will be a key to Froome's attack on the stage. Look for Chris Froome to have the support of his Team Sky teammates, as they hope to put their general classification contender back in the Maillot Jaune.
Speaking of Fabio Aru, the Italian rider has just overtaken Chris Froome in the general classification, and could be looking to make a statement on Stage 13. Aru has already won a stage on this year's Tour, and could look to crown his ownership of the yellow jersey with another. Aru has shown his form in the mountains at the Tour so far, and will be looking to push the pace on the short Stage 13. If Aru is able to navigate the dangerous descents in the Pyrenees, he could be able to put even more pressure on Froome and the field by gaining precious extra seconds. Aru will be battling in the peloton, and will be one of the most important riders to watch in the final 30 kilometers.
Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) is another rider who is coming into form at this year's Tour de France, and is shaping up to be a true threat to take home the Maillot Jaune. Uran won Stage 9 in the mountains by edging out Team Sunweb rider, and current polka dot jersey holder, Warren Barguil at the line, and took second to Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) on Stage 12 ahead of Fabio Aru. The veteran Columbian rider is strong in the mountains, and a victory on Stage 13 would show that Uran is truly in form to win his first overall title at the Tour de France.
Dan Martin (Quick-Step Floors) has not won a stage at this year's Tour de France so far, but the Irish rider is one of the toughest cyclists on the World Tour and victory on Stage 13 would be a massive day for both Martin and his Quick-Step Floors team. Martin has been incredibly consistent thus far at the 104th Tour de France, finishing in the top ten of four different stages and currently sitting at 5th place in the general classification. Sprinter Marcel Kittel has taken much of the fanfare for the Quick-Steps Floors team after his five stage victories in the first eleven stages, but Martin has been a strong general classification contender for the team and capturing another stage victory for the team would further solidify Quick-Step Floors' place as the most successful team on the World Tour in 2017 thus far.
Other riders to keep an eye on throughout Stage 13 include Simon Yates (Orica-Scott), George Bennett (Lotto NL-Jumbo), Warren Barguil (Team Sunweb), Thomas de Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), and Romain Bardet.
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