Jasper Philipsen has won stage 13 of the Tour de France, claiming his second victory of this year’s race after pipping Wout van Aert to the line in a crash-marred sprint finale.
Van Aert looked set for victory in the 165-kilometre flat ride from Agen to Pau but Alpecin–Deceuninck’s Philipsen picked the right moment to attack and overtook his Belgian compatriot.
“We are already with two stage wins, so it’s not a bad Tour. We always want more, but we just have to go day by day and enjoy the victory today,” said Philipsen, who won four stages last year.
“Wout was piloted perfectly by Christophe Laporte. I was on the wheel but I had to launch early so I could pass him. So I’m really happy with my sprint and with the feeling.
“This was my best feeling so far in the Tour de France. We didn’t have the best start … some bad luck but I’m happy we could turn it around.”
Another Belgian sprinter, Arnaud De Lie, was also in the running but he saw his hopes of a sprint victory evaporate when he was involved in a crash in the final kilometre where several riders hit the road.
Pascal Ackerman was third, while Biniam Girmay, who has won three stages so far, was fourth.
Tadej Pogačar, meanwhile, retained the yellow jersey and the UAE Team Emirates rider stays 1 minute and 6 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel, while Jonas Vingegaard is a further 8 seconds behind.
Pogačar is looking to become the first rider in 26 years to achieve the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France double.
The Tour now heads into the Pyrenees mountains and Pogačar is looking forward to the climbs.
“I like the climbs in the Pyrenees,” Pogačar said.
“Before the Tour I wasn’t sure what climbs we were doing but after that I checked them out. They’re climbs that I know and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Australians Jack Haig and Jai Hindley finished 37th and 42nd respectively in stage 13.
Hindley is 17th on the general classification standings, with Haig in 18th position.
