Video - Van Avermaet holds off Sagan in thrilling finale
Greg Van Avermaet claimed stage 13 of the Tour de France just ahead of Peter Sagan in an enthralling conclusion to Friday's racing.
BMC Racing's Greg Van Avermaet claimed his maiden Tour de France stage win by holding off Peter Sagan in a dramatic conclusion to the 13th leg of the race.
The Belgian, previously a points classification winner in the Vuelta a Espana, timed his attack to perfection at the end of Friday's 198.5-kilometre stage between Muret and Rodez.
With 10km to go, the trio of Cyril Gaultier, Wilco Kelderman, Thomas De Gendt broke away from the peloton in a bid to secure victory for themselves.
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They pulled 30 seconds clear during a late descent, but were caught in the final 400 metres as the riders made a gruelling climb back up into Rodez.
In scorching temperatures of well over 30 degrees centigrade, the trio failed to hold off the chasing pack and Van Avermaet hit the front.
Tinkoff-Saxo's Sagan looked well-positioned to overtake in the final few metres but just pulled up as Van Avermaet secured victory - the German forced to settle for his fourth second-placed result of this year's Tour.
Jan Bakelants, of AG2R La Mondiale, finished third, three seconds back, while overall leader Chris Froome (Team Sky) came home sixth (+7secs) and retains his two minutes and 52 seconds-lead in the general classification.
Reigning champion Vincenzo Nibali - of Astana - recovered from a puncture to finish seventh, while Jean-Christophe Peraud (AG2R) suffered a heavy crash midway through the stage but, after having a bleeding arm heavily bandaged, was able to finish the race.
