On July 17, 2026, the Tour de France rolled out its 13th stage. Starting in Dole and finishing in Belfort, the stage covered a total distance of 205.8 kilometres, serving as a hilly test before the race heads into the mountainous eastern regions of France. The route featured key climbs including the Ballon d’Alsace, making it difficult for the peloton to keep the race under tight control and turning breakaway groups into the decisive factor for stage victory. In the end, Mauro Schmid delivered a dominant performance to claim his maiden Tour de France stage win, while Tadej Pogačar retained the yellow jersey in the general classification standings.
Breakaway Battle Takes Centre Stage, Schmid Claims Victory In Final Sprint
The 13th stage kicked off with ferocious fights to get into the day’s leading breakaway, with dozens of riders launching repeated attacks to join the front group. After multiple rounds of surges and counterattacks, a large breakaway formed, at its peak boasting over 50 riders. Since none of the breakaway members posed a direct threat to the yellow jersey holder’s overall standing, the main peloton opted to let them ride clear, leaving the stage outcome to be settled among the escapees.
As the race entered its closing kilometres, the field fractured repeatedly on the undulating climbs. The Ballon d’Alsace marked a pivotal point, where multiple aggressive riders launched attacks. Tom Pidcock displayed exceptional climbing prowess, launching his own moves as he fought for a shot at the stage triumph.
Towards the finish, Mauro Schmid and Harold Tejada pulled clear of the rest of the breakaway to form a two-man leading group, engaging in a head-to-head duel for stage honours. Boasting superior sprint power, Schmid executed a decisive pass right before the line to cross the finish marginally ahead and secure the stage 13 victory. This marked the first Tour de France stage win of his professional career.
Stage 13 Podium
1.Winner: Mauro Schmid (Jayco-AlUla)
2.Second place: Harold Tejada (XDS ASTANA TEAM)
3.Third place: Tom Pidcock (PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM)
Pidcock’s Bold Breakaway Propels Him Up GC Standings, Podium Fight Widens
Tom Pidcock emerged as one of the biggest winners of the stage. Having sat outside the upper reaches of the general classification prior to the day, he capitalised on his place in the breakaway and strong displays on key climbs to build a substantial time gap over the main peloton.
Finishing third on the stage, Pidcock surged up the overall standings to fourth position, putting him within touching distance of the podium trio. He now trails third-placed Remco Evenepoel by just nine seconds, firmly reinserting himself into the battle for a spot on the final podium. Pidcock’s squad, Pinarello-Q36.5, also validated their all-out attacking strategy on this stage. With the high-mountain showdowns looming in the latter half of the Tour, Pidcock has cemented his status as a major wildcard in the general classification fight.
Pogačar Holds Firm In Yellow, Visma Squad Bides Time For Mountain Duels
In stark contrast to the chaotic action within the breakaway, the general classification contenders adopted a largely conservative approach on stage 13. Yellow jersey wearer Tadej Pogačar and his primary rival Jonas Vingegaard both opted to conserve energy, refraining from launching any large-scale attacks on the day.
At the end of stage 13, Pogačar retained top spot in the overall standings with a solid buffer over the rest of the field, while Vingegaard remained second, still separated by a meaningful time margin.
Top 10 General Classification Standings After Stage 13
1.Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) +3:36
3. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +4:06
4. Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) +4:15 5. Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) +4:22
Points And King Of The Mountains Competitions Heat Up
As the Tour reached its second weekend, the fight for the green points jersey between the sprinters remained tightly contested. The flat, fast sprint stages are now largely behind the peloton, with an increasing number of hilly and mountainous days ahead offering far more opportunities for breakaway riders to rack up points, shifting the race’s dynamic from pure sprint contests to tests of all-round ability.
Furthermore, the conclusion of stage 13 ushers in the Tour’s most concentrated stretch of high mountains. Stage 14 will feature an even more demanding alpine route with newly designated major climbs, setting the stage for the long-awaited head-to-head showdowns between the general classification favourites.
Stage Summary: A Breakaway Star Is Born As The Tour Enters Its Decisive Final Phase
Stage 13 embodied the classic breakaway-dominated racing format. The main peloton played it safe and ceded the day’s chances to the aggressive attackers, with Schmid seizing his career-defining victory. Meanwhile, Pidcock’s fearless riding catapulted him back into the thick of the podium battle, opening up the fight for the Tour’s top three spots.
With the decisive mountain stages fast approaching, Pogačar retains the upper hand in the overall classification. Nevertheless, Vingegaard, Evenepoel and the resurgent Pidcock all possess the capability to alter the course of the race. The battle for the 2026 Tour de France title has entered its most critical stretch.
