Norway’s Thor Hushovd raced to victory in the 13th stage of the 2011 Tour de France on Friday.

Better known as a sprinter, Hushovd surprised many by winning his first ever mountain stage as the riders cycled through the Pyrenees from Pau to Lourdes.

It was a mixed day for the Dutch. There was good news for Maarten Tjallingii, who finished ninth, and Bauke Mollema, who shook off the flu virus that had been putting a damper on his performance to finish just outside the top ten. He told reporters “I feel like a cyclist again.”

But it was curtains for their Rabo teammate Lars Boom. An injury to his Achilles tendon forced him out of the Tour just one hour into Friday's stage. Frenchman Thomas Voeckler retains his overall lead and the coveted yellow jersey.

(dd/ae)

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