\n<\/p>\n
Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard retained the leader’s yellow jersey in the Tour de France after an intense stage 14.<\/span><\/p>\n Spain’s Carlos Rodriguez, who had been dropped on the final climb, won the stage after he mugged Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar on the final descent.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The top two in the race duelled on the final climb after an attack by Pogacar. <\/span><\/p>\n Pogacar finished second with Vingegaard third but the Dane extended his overall lead by a second via bonus seconds for leading over the Col de Joux Plane.<\/span><\/p>\n The battle between the top two contenders for yellow commenced once the race had reached the final six kilometres of the hors category Col de la Joux Plane climb. <\/span><\/p>\n However, despite several minutes of explosive riding from Pogacar, little has changed in terms of the overall standings.<\/span><\/p>\n The two riders are perfectly balanced as competitors – Pogacar is more explosive, but Vingegaard appears to have a better ‘diesel’ engine that lets him say in touch with his rival.<\/span><\/p>\n The media motorbikes held up Pogacar as he attacked near the top of the final climb, and the two-time champion dropped a drinks bottle a few kilometres earlier, which seemed to unsettle him. <\/span><\/p>\n Both riders appear to be on the limit with a week left of this fascinating three-week race, and stage 15 – a 179km race from Les Gets to Mont Blanc – promises to be another titanic battle.<\/span><\/p>\n The stage had to be stopped and then restarted after a huge early crash which saw several riders hit the ground on a damp right-hand corner.<\/span><\/p>\n Spain’s Antonio Pedrero of Movistar had to abandon after being treated on the side of the road.<\/span><\/p>\n Colombia’s Esteban Chaves, South Africa’s Louis Meintjes, and Portugal’s Ruben Guerreiro also abandoned the race.<\/span><\/p>\n And Britain’s James Shaw and France’s Romain Bardet later abandoned the race after a separate incident. <\/span><\/p>\n Tom Pidcock lost time after falling behind on the penultimate climb, a year after winning brilliantly on Alpe d’Huez.<\/span><\/p>\n The Ineos rider has dropped out of the top 10 in the general classification and is now set to focus on winning stages.<\/span><\/p>\n Compatriot Adam Yates, Pogacar’s primary climbing domestique for UAE-Team Emirates, finished fourth on Saturday and remains fifth in the GC.<\/span><\/p>\n Twin brother Simon lost ground for Jayco AlUla, but remains eighth overall.<\/span><\/p>\n Stage 14 results:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Carlos Rodriguez (Spa\/Ineos Grenadiers) 3hrs 58mins 45secs<\/span><\/p>\n 2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo\/UAE-Team Emirates) +5secs<\/span><\/p>\n 3. Jonas Vingegaard (Den\/Jumbo-Visma) same time<\/span><\/p>\n 4. Adam Yates (GB\/UAE-Team Emirates) +10secs<\/span><\/p>\n 5. Sepp Kuss (USA\/Jumbo-Visma) +57secs<\/span><\/p>\n 6. Jai Hindley (Aus\/Bora-Hansgrohe) +1min 46secs<\/span><\/p>\n 7. Felix Gall (Aut\/AG2R-Citroen) Same time<\/span><\/p>\n 8. Pello Bilbao (Spa\/Bahrian-Victorious) +3mins 19secs<\/span><\/p>\n 9. Simon Yates (GB\/Jayco AlUla) +3mins 21secs<\/span><\/p>\n 10. Guillaume Martin (Fra\/Cofidis) +5mins 57secs<\/span><\/p>\n General classification standings:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den\/Jumbo-Visma) 53hrs 48mins 50secs<\/span><\/p>\n 2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo\/UAE Team Emirates) +10secs<\/span><\/p>\n 3. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Spa\/Ineos Grenadiers) +4mins 43secs<\/span><\/p>\n 4. Jai Hindley (Aus\/Bora-Hansgrohe) +4mins 44secs<\/span><\/p>\n 5. Adam Yates (GB\/UAE Team Emirates) +5mins 20secs<\/span><\/p>\n 6. Sepp Kuss (US\/Jumbo-Visma) +8mins 15secs <\/span><\/p>\n 7. Simon Yates (GB\/Team Jayco-AlUla) +8mins 32secs <\/span><\/p>\n 8. Pello Bilbao (Spa\/Bahrain Victorious) +8mins 51secs<\/span><\/p>\nBreathless racing<\/h3>\n
Early crash sees several abandonments<\/h3>\n
Mixed day for Brits<\/h3>\n