Lance Armstrong has the yellow jersey and begins the 13th stage looking on course for another Tour de France triumph

Norwegian rider Thor Hushovd bids to keep the green jersey and is one of the favourites to win the stage

The journey from Miramas to Montpellier is underway and the pack rides uphill past a castle

France's Thomas Voeckler leads a group of five riders that escape after 17km to establish a lead

Chris Horner is another of the group to escape - he takes the first climb after 26.5km

Spaniard Alejandro Valverde - winner of Stage 10 and fifth overall - is forced to retire from the Tour with a knee injury

Tour de France doctor Gerard Porte listens to Australian champion Robbie McEwen

A man watches the race while riding on horseback alongside the pack near Maussane-les-Alpilles

McEwen pips fellow Australian Stuart O'Grady to win a bunched sprint finish - Armstrong retains the overall lead

McEwen's win is his third of the Tour following his victories in stages five and seven