Stage13: McEwen master of the sprint, Valverde big disappointment

It's very rare that a sprinter wins a flat stage between the alps and the pyrenees.
Such stages are usually won by "baroudeurs", they did try today Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom), Carlos Da Cruz (FDJ), Juan Antonio Flecha (Fassa Bortolo), Ludovic Turpin (Ag2R), Sylvain Chavanel (cofidis) and Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) -- shuttled off the front just 25 km into Friday's race. But the crazy pace of the peoloton caught the last 2 just 200 meters beforet the finish. A good work by Lotto team propelled McEwen to an awesome sprint. Hushevod, the green jersey leader finished fifth and his lead is growing smaller by the stages.
Big disappointing news for Valverde today who withdrew because of a recurring knee injury, the star of the future was in tears today, but looking back later on his first TDF, he will be satisfied with his performance.
Look out for Valverde next year.
Tomorrow is the start of the pyrenees, it's Ullrich time. Ullrich will attack at some point tomorrow, and he will probably distance himself from everybody except Lance or maybe even Lance.
Tomorrow will be very exciting, I for one will wake early and enjoy it.

Sploush