2013 Tour de France team and the oldest. The teams entering the race were: UCI ProTeams UCI Professional Continental teams In the run up to the 2013 Tour de France, Chris Froome () was widely considered as the top pre-race favourite for the general classification, with his closest rivals thought to be Alberto Contador () and Joaquim Rodríguez (). 's Vincenzo Nibali was also a possible contender after getting his first Tour podium in 2012 but he had focused on the 2013 Giro d'Italia. The other riders considered contenders for the general classification were riders Cadel Evans and Tejay van Garderen, Richie Porte (),
2013 Tour de France, Stage 12 to Stage 21 2013 Tour de France, Stage 12 to Stage 21 The 2013 Tour de France was the 100th Tour de France. It ran from 29 June 2013 to 21 July 2013, starting in the city of Porto-Vecchio in Corsica. The 13th stage saw a big change in the general classification due to crosswinds leading to the formation of echelons. A 15 man group led by Alberto Contador's Team Saxo Bank, with the help of eventual stage winner Mark Cavendish's Omega Pharma-Quick Step and Bauke Mollema's Belkin Pro Cycling used the crosswinds to make a gap with other General Classification riders 31