They may have left the Pyrenes, but today was never going to be an easy day for the peloton. The day's numbers: 1 sprint, 3 categorized climbs, 198.5km, and a brutal climb of over 9% in the last 500 meters.
The cooperative six man break dropped most of their colleague in the closing kilometers, ultimately leaving just Wilco Kelderman and Thomas De Gendt to be caught after the flamme rouge.
Greg Van Avermaet and Peter Sagan stormed up the demanding climb.
Jan Bakelants finished third.
John Degenkolb and Paul Martens.
Martens.
Zdenek Stybar, Tony Gallopin, Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, and Alejandro Valverde.
Vincenzo Nibali and Tejay Van Garderen in the same group.
Geraint Thomas.
Michael Matthews glanced over his shoulder to see Warren Barguil.
Cyril Gautier and Sami Sanchez.
Thomas De Gendt would earn the most combative prize for his work in the break.
Alexander Kristoff was beaten and battered by the climb. The big Norwegian sprinter could hardly pedal himself the last 150 meters.
Andrew Talansky.
Jarlinson Pantano.
Kristijan Koren hugs the barriers.
Kristoff wasn't the only sprinter foiled by the climb. Mark Cavendish could hardly keep his bike in a straight line.
A pat on the back or helping hand? Bob Jungels and Haimar Zubeldia.
Marco Haller and Matteo Trentin.
Winner Anacona.
Rigoberto Uran.
Emanuel Buchmann.
A teammate points out Alexandre Géniez to the crowd. The Frenchman rode in the break and hails from a town along the final 10km of today's course.
Perrig Quemeneur.
Pierre-Luc Perichon, exhausted from a day in the break, and Thomas Voeckler.
Jean-Christophe Peraude finished sporting the bandages the race doctor applied after his crash today. The runner up from the 2014 Tour finished alongside Nathan Haas, who rode in the break and even attacked the break in honor of Jack Bauer, his kiwi teammate who crashed out on stage 5.
Dan Martin.
Richie Porte and Giampaolo Caruso.
Joaquim Rodriguez and Ryder Hesjedal.
Italians Jacopo Guarnieri and Daniel Oss.
Just one of the many groups to roll in.
Damien Gaudet, Rafal Majka, Bartosz Huzarski, and Michal Kwiatkowski.
In addition to Quintana leading the white jersey competition, Movistar are currently the top team.
Their bus was understandably mobbed.
Lotto Sudal's bus was far more peaceful, allowing Thomas De Gendt to make a quick retreat after collecting his combativity prize.
Steep climbs, fast descents, a lengthy flat in the middle of the stage, and a technical and challenging finale. Stage 14 promises to be another nail biter.