Garmin's Thor Hushovd won the thirteenth stage of the 98th Tour De France this afternoon.
For the 63rd time, Pau, with its 87,000 population, hosted the Tour De France. This time, it was for the start of the 13th stage which was 152.5km long.
With Gert Steegmans and Andrea Klodden not starting and Katusha's Denis Galimzyanov out for not finishing inside the time limit for yesterday's stage, the race set off in the direction of Lourdes.
Radio Shack's Andreas Klodden was suffering from back problems and forced into his team car, whilst Lars Boom and Vladimir Isaichiev also withdrew.
Omega Pharma Lotto's Jelle Vandenert took the opening climb of the day on the Cote du Couqueron before the first major break of the day was established.
There were some big names in the break which compromised of Maarten Tjallingii (Rabobank), Thor Hushovd (Garmin), Dmitriy Fofonov (Astana), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky), Jérôme Pineau (Quick Step), Jérémy Roy (FDJ), Vladimitr Gusev (Katusha), David Moncoutié (Cofidis), Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre) and Lars Bak (HTC-Highroad).
Jeremy Roy, who is now a regular escaper, having been involved in five so far, got clear to take the point on the Category Four Côte de Belair and moved to within fifteen points of yesterday's stage winner Samuel Sanchez.
Leopard Trek rider Jen Voigt crashed as the riders went through the feed station at Sevignacq-Meyracq close to the "cliff of the vultures" national park.
The day's intermediate sprint came with 70kms to go and Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen who has already won a stage beat David Moncoutie to take the twenty available points.
There were five points available for the peleton and it was JJ Rojas and Ventosa who boxed an unhappy Cavendish in, to make sure the green jersey wearer only got four points to add to his tally.
The race continued amongst some stunning scenery heading for the finish at Lourdes which was on the boulevard Lapacca at the end of a finishing straight which was 100m long and coming after a final bend 800m from the finish.
With a lead of close to six minutes Garmin's Thor Hushovd (pictured below) went away.
Jeremy Roy caught the Norwegian up and he took the twenty points from the Hors Category climb on the Col d'Aubisque which gave him the polka dot jersey, five points ahead of Sanchez.
The climb had strung out the riders and the peleton were eight minutes and fifteen seconds behind Roy.
With 2kms to go, Roy was running on empty and Thor Hushovd shot past him to win the stage in a time of 3hr 47 mins and 36 seconds. David Moncoutie was second with the gutted Roy in third.
Thomas Voeckler came in with a big group some seven minutes and forty seconds back and keeps his yellow jersey.
Stage 14 is from Saint Gaudens to Plateau De Beille and is 168.5km.
Pictures copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM & ©Pool/Tim De Waele