Tour De France / Tobias Gourlay / 15 July 2011 /

As the Tour makes a pilgrimage to Lourdes, Tobias Gourlay gives thanks to Samuel Sanchez and searches for another big winner

Samuel Sanchez got quite emotional after winning yesterday's stage to Luz Ardiden. And so should we - [20.0] successes don't come along that often.

Sanchez can gather himself on today's slightly easier stage. There's one hors-category climb up the Col d'Aubisque, but the finish is more than 40km on from the summit, so the GC contenders will save themselves for tomorrow's stage, when gains made going up a mountain won't be lost coming down the other side.

Today is for the baroudeurs - the combative breakaway artists - who chase individual stage wins, not the yellow jersey. Thomas Voeckler ([100.0]) would normally be among the favourites, but he wears yellow at the moment and might save his legs to defend his position in Saturday's much harder stage.

Edvald Boasson Hagen has won one stage already this year and is quite open about his keenness to win another. "The day after tomorrow [Friday] could be a good one for a breakaway and I would like to get in that," he told the press this week. The Norwegian rides for Sky, whose riders have much more freedom to attack in Bradley Wiggins' absence.

Boasson Hagen finished yesterday with the autobus - the group of riders who come together at the back of the peloton to help each other beat the elimination time - and was clearly saving himself for today. A couple of other riders who finished back there and might be plotting something: Jose Joaquin Rojas ([40.0]) and Thor Hushovd ([36.0]).

Best Bet: Back Edvald Boasson Hagen @ [15.0] to be Stage 13 Winner

Recommended Bet: Back Jose Joaquin Rojas @ [40.0] to be Stage 13 Winner

Follow Tobias on Twitter: @tobiasgourlay

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