Cycling: Omar Fraile (Astana) won the 14th stage of the Tour de France. The Spaniard was able to close the gap to Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) from a breakaway group up to Mende after refusing to lead for many kilometers. Belgian Stuyven was third behind Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors). Around 20 minutes later, the favorites also crossed the finish line. Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) was able to make the best impression.
Sky lets 32 harmless men go
The spectators were treated to beautiful landscapes today on the 14th stage of the Tour de France. It went over 188,0 kilometers from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Mende through the gorges of the Ardeche. While the fans could enjoy the great pictures, the pros had to work hard right after the start. Due to the strong wind, relays were formed so that the peloton split into several parts. After a bitter struggle to regroup, Team Sky finally sealed off the eight-man lead in the peloton and allowed the already distanced rivals to rejoin. At the same time, a 32-strong lead group got the GO. It was immediately clear that today's winner would come from this huge breakaway group. Among others, the dotted one was there Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors) and the green one Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe), as well as the German Simon Geschke (Sunweb), the Swiss Stefan Kung (BMC) and the Austrian Michael Gogl (Trek Segafredo).
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Omar Fraile uses his brains to win the stage
While Team Sky set a moderate pace in the peloton, there was a lot going on in the leading group. In this way, a lead of over 19 minutes could be achieved. With around 60 kilometers to go, the Spanish champions attacked Gorka Izagirre (Bahrain-Merida) and co-founded with Jasper stuyven (Trek Segafredo) and Jan Jelte Slagter (Dimension Data) a new leadership trio. The follow-up work was left to the Quick-Step Floors team. But neither the pursuers nor the leaders really seemed to agree. As a result, attacks increased. Jasper stuyven managed to break away from his companions. Now he had a solo of over 30 kilometers ahead of him. Only shortly before the summit of the last mountain classification, he was from Omar friar (Astana), who previously refused to cooperate in the persecution. The Spaniard left nothing to burn on the sloping and flat last 1.500 meters.
Omar Fraile 🇪🇸 pact 'm! Want a SENSATIONAL finale! #TDF2018 pic.twitter.com/j8pcuyyuzx
— Eurosport Nederland (@Eurosport_NL) July 21, 2018
Only Dumoulin and Roglic lose no time on the British
About 20 minutes after the leading group, the peloton tackled the ascent to Mende. Daniel Martin (UAE Team Emirates) suffered a defect shortly before and was therefore not a little behind on time. As in all previous climbs, Michal Kwiatkowsi and Egan Bernal headed the Sky train. While Primois Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) tried to attack, numerous professionals had problems to follow the pace of the Brits. Then Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome ignited the turbo over the crest themselves. Together with Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) the Brits were seven seconds behind Primois Roglic to the goal. Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale), Mikel Landa (Movistar) and Co. lost a little more time. Nothing has changed in the first three places in the overall standings.
#TDF2018 #TDF 🏁 | L Legan Froome, Thomas y Dumoulin, 19 segundos pierde Nairo y landa muy atrás pic.twitter.com/nQnEu9vrNV
— Mundo Ciclistico (@mundociclistico) July 21, 2018