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 breakway, who must ride into the wind for longer.
But peloton politics sometimes prevents riders from working together…
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 Cycling)
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