PARIS: Australian Michael Matthews won the 14th stage of the Tour de France, a 192.5-km hilly ride from Saint Etienne on Saturday.
Italian Alberto Bettiol was second and France’s Thibaut Pinot came home third.
Having been overtaken on the final climb, Michael Matthews drew on his apparently bottomless reserves to pull clear of Alberto Bettiol and win his first stage of the 2017 Tour de France.
He took one of the finest victories of his career with an impressive solo effort into Mende.
Matthews was part of a large breakaway that went clear after around 40k to go and the Australian then attacked that group with just over 50k to go. He was joined by several riders but a late attack on the Montée Jalabert was enough to deliver him to victory.
Top 10 after the 14th Stage.
- Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 55hr 31min 01sec
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) +2min 22sec
- Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) +2min 43sec
- Romain Bardet (Team DSM) +3min 01sec
- Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) +4min 06sec
- Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic) +4min 15sec
- Louis Meintjes ((Intermarche-Wanty) +4min 24sec
- David Gaudu (Groupama FDJ) +4min 24sec
- Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) +8min 49sec
- Enrique Mas (Movistar) +9min 58sec
