Einer Rubio wins stage 13 Giro, GC riders save legs

Stage thirteen did not go as planned: the ride was shortened considerably due to bad weather conditions. At first, the contestants were to contest a triptych of tough climbs, but the first mountain pass, Gran San Bernardo, was cut out. This left a 75-kilometer stretch in which only the Croix de Coeur (15.5 kilometers at 8.4%) and the Crans Montana (13 kilometers at 7.2%) were climbed.

The race started at the foot of the Croix de Coeur, from kilometer one it was hard driving. A number of renowned climbers almost immediately got into trouble, including Jack Haig, Pavel Sivakov and Jay Vine, who relieved the role at an early stage. A six-man breakaway emerged: Jefferson Cepeda, Thibaut Pinot, Derek Gee, Einer Rubio, Valentin Paret-Peintre and Matthew Riccitello set off together.

Fight on two fronts

INEOS Grenadiers, the team of classification leader Thomas, made little effort to bring back the front runners. The men in the front guard started the final climb with a lead of two and a half minutes and also fought for the stage victory. It resulted in an interesting spectacle between Cepeda, Rubio and Pinot. The latter bombarded the competition with numerous attacks, but was unable to pull away.

In the end, the trio sprinted for the stage victory. Rubio was the fastest, well ahead of Pinot. Cepeda completed the podium. Apart from a number of pinpricks, the classification riders did nothing. The position in the general classification has remained unchanged.