Tom Pidcock secures fourth place overall in the Tour de France after a strong performance in Stage 13, won by Mauro Schmid.
New Delhi, India Jul 17, 2026 ALN: Britain's Tom Pidcock is up to fourth place overall in the Tour de France standings after a breakaway from which Switzerland's Mauro Schmid won stage 13.
Pinarello-Q36.5's Pidcock finished third on the demanding 205.8km run from Dole to Belfort, making up six places in the general classification as he and several others finished more than seven minutes ahead of the peloton. This stage, characterized by its challenging terrain and strategic racing, showcased the endurance and tactical skills of the riders involved.
Schmid, of Jayco-Alula, took the win from Colombia's Harold Tejada of XDS-Astana on the line after the pair pulled away from the larger breakaway group on a long descent with about 16km to go. The descent, a crucial part of the race, allowed the two riders to leverage their speed and skill, ultimately leading to a thrilling finish. The dynamics of the breakaway were a testament to the riders' ability to work together, even amidst the competitive nature of the Tour.
Pidcock - who was one of the favourites to win the stage once the breakaway was formed and fought hard to pull away on the category one Ballon d'Alsace climb - brought home six others to finish just two seconds behind Schmid and Tejada. His performance on this iconic climb demonstrated not only his physical prowess but also his strategic acumen in positioning himself within the breakaway group.
The Briton, 26, now sits four minutes and 15 seconds behind yellow jersey wearer Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, who had a quiet day in the peloton, as did second-placed rider overall Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark - three minutes and 36 seconds down overall - and Belgium's Remco Evenepoel, who is four minutes and six seconds off the lead. This stage marked a pivotal moment in the race, as Pidcock's ascent in the general classification could have significant implications for the remaining stages.
Pogacar, 27, is aiming to become the joint-most successful rider in the Tour's history with five wins, alongside legends such as Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain. His pursuit of this historic milestone adds an additional layer of intensity and excitement to the competition, as he navigates through the challenges of the Tour while maintaining his lead.
"I don't really have voice left," said Pidcock's team manager Doug Ryder to TNT afterwards. "Tom was brilliant... the whole team rode so well - the commitment to [getting into] the break was so brilliant. Tom is a fighter and has really turned the race upside down and made it exciting. What he did today is pretty cool." Ryder's comments underscore the importance of teamwork in , especially in a race as grueling as the Tour de France, where individual efforts must be complemented by collective strategy.
Denmark's Mads Pedersen of Lidl-Trek remains in the green jersey by 41 points over Belgium's Jasper Philipsen. The green jersey, awarded for points accumulated through stage finishes and intermediate sprints, adds another competitive dimension to the race, as sprinters vie for recognition alongside climbers and general classification contenders.
It has been four years since Pidcock's brilliant win on Alpe d'Huez - one of the Tour's steepest, spaghetti-like ribbons of road - in the Alps near Mont Blanc. That victory not only marked a significant achievement in his career but also established him as a formidable competitor in the world. After that win, many, including himself, saw the potential to go on and challenge for the yellow jersey across a whole three-week race. However, he doesn't appear to quite have the same physiological makeup as Pogacar and Vingegaard, both of whom have demonstrated exceptional endurance and climbing ability throughout the Tour.
Nevertheless, he is the current pride of Britain on the bike, having also won Olympic gold in mountain biking and some of 's biggest one-day races. His diverse skill set and ability to excel in various disciplines have made him a unique asset to his team and a fan favorite. Pidcock's journey has not been without its challenges, as a protracted departure from the British Ineos Grenadiers team, which he was expected to achieve so much with, left him searching for another place to win in the peloton.
He found it at Pinarello-Q36.5, where Ryder has embraced Pidcock and his talent and built a team specifically around his strengths. The collaborative environment has allowed Pidcock to thrive, showcasing his abilities in a way that may not have been possible in his previous team structure. Following a brilliant third overall in last year's Vuelta a Espana, Pidcock's progress had stalled as he struggled with illness prior to this Tour and admitted to finding the going tough in the first week. His resilience in overcoming these setbacks speaks volumes about his character and determination as an athlete.
Known for his superb skills in descending at speed, Pidcock even managed to crash while going downhill on stage 10 after sliding out on a dusty left-hand corner. This incident serves as a reminder of the inherent risks involved in professional , particularly in a race as demanding as the Tour de France, where conditions can change rapidly, and every descent poses its own challenges.
But here on stage 13, he showed he still has the ability to animate and win a race. While it is unlikely he will challenge for the podium as the Tour hits the high mountains in the third week, he could yet win on the day. The unpredictability of the Tour means that every stage presents new opportunities for riders to assert themselves and make their mark.
"That's what I love about him - he's such an impact rider," said Ryder. "Success [in this Tour] would be a stage win and a great GC result." The focus on stage wins versus overall classification results highlights the different strategies employed by riders and teams throughout the Tour, as they balance individual ambitions with team goals.
To try to chase down a breakaway, the group of differing teams behind must work together to close the gap by using the energy of several riders in the group. The advantage in numbers should close the deficit to the breakaway, who must ride into the wind for longer. However, peloton politics sometimes prevents riders from working together, as rivalries and team loyalties can complicate the dynamics of collaboration. This aspect of the race adds an additional layer of complexity, as riders must navigate not only the physical challenges of the course but also the interpersonal dynamics within the peloton.
Tour de France stage 13 results
1. Mauro Schmid (Swi/Jayco-Alula) 4hrs 6mins 58secs
2. Harold Tejada (Col/XDZ-Astana) same time
3. Tom Pidcock (GB/Pinarello-Q36.5) +2secs
4. Maxim Van Gils (Bel/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) same time
5. Brandon McNulty (USA/UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
6. Kevin Vauquelin (Fra/Netcompany Ineos)
7. Jordan Jegat (Fra/Total Energies)
8. Clement Braz Afonso (Fra/Groupama-FDJ United)
9. Tim Wellens (Bel/UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
10. Luke Plapp (Aus/Jayco-Alula) +11secs
Tour de France general classification after stage 13
1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 47hrs 18mins 31secs
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +3mins 36secs
3. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +4mins 5secs
4. Tom Pidcock (GB/Pinarello-Q36.5) +4mins 16secs
5. Juan Ayuso (Spa/Lidl-Trek) +4mins 22secs
6. Paul Seixas (Fra/Decathlon-CMA CGM) +4mins 35secs
7. Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +4mins 44secs
8. Isaac del Toro (Mex/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +5mins 8secs
9. Mattias Skjelmose (Den/Lidl-Trek) +5mins 45secs
10. Lenny Martinez (Fra/Bahrain-Victorious) +6mins 34secs
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