Tour de France: Mads Pedersen wins stage 13 after dominant breakaway performance

Mads Pedersen was one of the favourites for today's stage into Saint-Étienne, however few would've expected that the Trek - Segafredo rider would be able to win from the day's breakaway, where he controlled the competition and sprinted to the win.

As a day destined to be for the breakaway the start was fast and furious. Several groups went up the road, only controlled by Alpecin-Deceuninck who managed to slightly keep the race compact over the first hour of racing. A trio went up the road after the first climb of the day, then turnt into a seven rider group that formed the official breakaway: Mads Pedersen and Quinn Simmons (Trek - Segafredo), Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers), Stefan Küng (Groupama - FDJ), Fred Wright (Bahrain - Victorious), Hugo Houle (Israel - Premier Tech) and Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar Team).

The gap never grew much as Alpecin-Deceuninck and Lotto Soudal worked to keep the gap at two minutes. However with Caleb Ewan crashing throughout the day the momentum had a hit, and despite temporary stints of Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team and Team BikeExchange - Jayco trying to bring the group back, it proved unsuccessful and the win was in front.

Simmons was dropped with 47 kilometers to go leaving six in front, and the fastest man in the group Mads Pedersen was himself the rider to stir up the decisive split, as he attacked with 13 kilometers to go with him, having Wright and Houle joining him.

The duo attacked the Dane but without success, whilst in the final sprint the chances were always on Pedersen's sides - he who then easily defeated the competition to the line. Fred Wright arrived in second place, whilst Hugo Houle finished fourth.

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