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The Latest: Tour’s 13th stage under way in southern France

Britain's Chris Froome, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, smiles as he waits for the start of the thirteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 198.5 kilometers (123.3 miles) with start in Muret and finish in Rodez, France, Friday, July 17, 2015. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani) Britain's Chris Froome, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, smiles as he waits for the start of the thirteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 198.5 kilometers (123.3 miles) with start in Muret and finish in Rodez, France, Friday, July 17, 2015. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

By Associated Press July 17, 2015 1 min read

RODEZ, France (AP) – The latest from the Tour de France (all times local):

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12:50 p.m.

The Tour de France pack is back racing in Friday’s Stage 13 and looking forward to a flatter ride after three punishing days in the Pyrenees.

Britain’s Chris Froome retained the yellow jersey a day earlier after a hot, rain-splattered stage won by Spain’s Joachim Rodriguez.

Froome, the Team Sky leader, has a 2 minute, 52 second lead over American rider Tejay van Garderen, who is second. Colombia’s Nairo Quintana is third – 3:09 back.

The hilly 198.5-kilometer (123 mile) jaunt from Muret to Rodez on Friday was likely to favor breakaway riders or a group sprint.