Stage 14: Grenoble - Risoul, 177km
Three mountain ascents and summit finish
GB's Geraint Thomas and Simon Yates in early break
Italy's Vincenzo Nibali is race leader
Spain's Alejandro Valverde second
Live Reporting
All times stated are UK
Recent live reporting posts
Rob Hayles
Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Posted at
"The way that Majka's riding at the moment, I wouldn't put it past him to take the polka dot jersey. Rodriguez really did look like he was struggling today."
Polkadot Jersey
Classification
King of the Mountains
Posted at 16:51
Despite finishing 31st on today's stage, Joaquim 'Purito' Rodriguez did just enough by winning the first two climbs to take back the polka dot jersey.
1. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa/Katusha) 88
2. Rafal Majka (Pol/Tinkoff-Saxo) 88
3. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) 86
4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ) 49
5. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) 40
Rob Hayles
Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Posted at
"I think Simon Yates has the potential to win stage races. The one thing I don't know about him is his time-trialling ability. I can't imagine him staying in this race, I think Orica GreenEdge will pull him out, because he's so young."
Yellow Jersey
Classification
General classification after stage 14
Posted at 16:47
1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) 61hrs 52mins 54secs
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +4mins 37secs
3. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R) +4mins 50secs
4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ) +5mins 06secs
5. Tejay van Garderen (US/BMC Racing) +5mins 49secs
Stage 14 result
Posted at 16:44
1. Rafal Majka (Pol/Tinkoff - Saxo) 5hrs 08mins 28secs
2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) +24secs
3. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra/AG2R) +26secs
4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ) +50secs
5. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R) Same time
6. Tejay van Garderen (US/BMC Racing) +54secs
7. Fraenk Schleck (Lux/Trek) +1min 01secs
8. Laurens ten Dam (Ned/Belkin) +1min07secs
9. Leopold Koenig (Cze/NetApp) +1min 20secs
10. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +1min 24secs
Rob Hayles
Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Posted at
"I love that three of the top six are French, it's great for the race. They are riding out of their skins. Froome and Contador are out, Quintana isn't here, but you can only beat what's in front of you. They deserve to be riding at the pointy end of this race."
Posted at 16:42
Some words from our stage winner Rafal Majka: "This is my first victory and maybe it's not finished, get in another long breakaway and try win another stage. This is a victory for Alberto Contador because we came here trying to win the Tour for him."
Rob Hayles
Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Posted at
"I thought Nibali could have afforded to sit back today, but he attacked out of the group, and that was what really put the pressure on Valverde. I actually think Valverde did a good job in limiting his losses to the riders chasing him - Bardet, Pinot, Van Garderen. I don't really know what to say about Nibali, other than he is by far the strongest rider in this race."
Majka's maiden Tour win
Posted at 16:37
A few days before the Tour de France, Rafal Majka, who was sixth at the Giro d'Italia and wasn't scheduled to race the Tour, said on Twitter that he was not ready and it was not right to put the 24-year-old in for two consecutive Grand Tours.
I wonder if the Polish Tinkoff-Saxo rider has changed his mind.
Rob Hayles
Former Great Britain cyclist on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Posted at
"Another incredible stage, a tough day with the climbs that we had. There was a lot of damage done on the Col d'Izoard. AG2R did all the damage on the descent and that created havoc in the group behind. Geraint Thomas did all the work on the front for Nieve, but unfortunately for Team Sky, it didn't work, again."
White Jersey
Classification
Posted at 16:30
Romain Bardet is in the best young rider's white jersey and has a 16-second lead over Thibaut Pinot. But Pinot wants to make a point and puts in a sprint finish to beat his compatriot, not that it will make any difference in the standings.
Nibali second
Posted at 16:27
Vincenzo Nibali stays clear of Peraud to claim second and there is an almighty battle for fourth between the two Frenchmen chasing the white jersey.
CHAMPAGNE MOMENT
Posted at 16:27
RAFAL MAJKA WINS STAGE 14.
Posted at 16:26
Rafal Majka is inside the final 300m and he has a huge smile on his face - he knows he has won this stage and the thousands of fans on top of the mountain are giving him a tremendous reception.
Rob Hatch
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator
Posted at
"Nibali is going to become a bit unpopular if he keeps winning so many stages. He's riding up to Majka, the gap is coming down very, very heavily. He's winning this Tour de France right here. right now."
Final kilometre
Posted at 16:25
Just 1km to go for Majka. Can he take his first stage win on his debut Tour? He is 35 seconds clear of Nibali. Rather than chasing a fourth stage win of this Tour, maybe Nibali will be content to put more time into his rivals for the overall race win.
Rob Hatch
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator
Posted at
"Valverde is really suffering here, he's finally cracked. The fight for the podium is on, and Bardet, Thibaut Pinot and Tejay Van Gardern are riding away from him."
Posted at 16:23
Nibali is pushing hard and has reduced the deficit to 34 seconds as he goes under the 2km to go banner. Peraud is happy in his wheel and will take the tow to the finish line.
What of Rodriguez? He has cracked and slipped back down the field.
Valverde has also cracked. Van Garderen, Pinot and Bardet are off in pursuit of Nibali. Sensational scenes with riders attacking all over the mountain.
Rob Hatch
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator
Posted at
"Nibali just drifted towards the back of the group, had a look at everybody's faces, saw a lot of suffering, and decided to put in the dig. At the moment, Peraud is the only one who can go with him."
In the peloton
Posted at 16:19
Eventually Alejandro Valverde responds and he is joined by Tejay van Garderen and Thibaut Pinot and Roman Bardet make it a foursome.
Majka is just 2.5km from the summit but Nibali's effort has reduced his advantge to just 47 seconds. This stage is far from over.
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