Schmid outlasts breakaway rivals to claim Tour de France Stage 13

Mauro Schmid delivered the ride of his life on the Tour de France’s longest day, out-sprinting Harold Tejada in Belfort after a gruelling 205-kilometre breakaway that splintered repeatedly across the Jura and Vosges. The Swiss rider had battled cramps in the closing kilometres yet still found the strength to overhaul Tejada in the final metres, taking his first Tour stage win in dramatic fashion.

Tom Pidcock crossed the line two seconds behind the leading pair, and although he missed the stage victory, he walked away as the day’s major beneficiary. The Briton vaulted from tenth to fourth overall, slashing his deficit to race leader Tadej Pogacar and pulling within touching distance of Remco Evenepoel’s podium position.

The stage opened at full throttle, with green-jersey contenders forcing a huge selection at the intermediate sprint. That early aggression created a sprawling front group of 57 riders, at one point more than eight minutes clear of the peloton. Jasper Philipsen edged Mads Pedersen for maximum points, though the Dane still holds a comfortable advantage in the classification.

The real race began on the Col des Croix, where the front group began to fracture under sustained pressure. The decisive damage came on the Ballon d’Alsace, its long slopes shredding the breakaway until only ten riders remained at the head of the race. Pidcock was among them, cresting the summit with 30 kilometres to go and looking increasingly dangerous.

Schmid launched his attack on the descent, choosing a moment of hesitation behind him to force a split. Tejada was the only rider able to respond, and the pair quickly committed to a two-man alliance, knowing the remnants of the breakaway were still close enough to threaten.

Inside the final kilometre, the cooperation dissolved. Schmid tried to force Tejada into leading out the sprint, but the Colombian refused to take the bait, pushing the Swiss rider to the front. Schmid later admitted he feared a repeat of last year’s heartbreak in Toulouse, where he was beaten in a similar two-up finish. This time, though, he found a final surge, clawing back Tejada’s opening acceleration and powering past him on the line.

The peloton rolled in more than seven minutes later, sealing Pidcock’s leap up the general classification and tightening the battle for the podium behind Pogacar.

Stage 13 may have been long, chaotic, and brutally attritional, but for Schmid it ended with redemption — and for Pidcock, it marked the moment his Tour ambitions sharpened into genuine contention.

2026 Tour de France Stage 13 Top 10

1 Schmid Mauro Team Jayco-AlUla 210 04:06:58

2 Tejada Harold XDS Astana Team 150 + 00

3 Pidcock Tom Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team 110 + 02

4 Van Gils Maxim Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe 90 + 02

5 McNulty Brandon UAE Team Emirates-XRG 70 + 02

6 Vauquelin Kévin Netcompany INEOS Cycling Team 55 + 02

7 Jegat Jordan Team TotalEnergies 45 + 02

8 Braz Afonso Clément Groupama-FDJ United 40 + 02

9 Wellens Tim UAE Team Emirates-XRG 35 + 02

10 Plapp Luke Team Jayco-AlUla 30 + 11

2026 Tour de France GC after Stage 13 Top 10