Majka wins stage, Nibali keeps lead

Rafal Majka of Poland won the 14th stage of the Tour de France – a second day of punishing Alpine climbs and over the highest point on the race – as Vincenzo Nibali again extended his overall lead by finishing second.

Majka led a breakaway on the final climb in the 177km roller-coaster course over two infamous climbs, including the 2,360-metre Izoard pass, and a finish up to Risoul ski station.

The one-two result was the flip of Friday’s entree into the Alps: Nibali won, and Majka was second.

Majka’s victory was the first on this Tour by his Tinkoff-Saxo Bank team, which lost main leader Alberto Contador when he crashed out injured on Stage 10.

“I am really very happy,” Majka, who was sixth in the Giro d’Italia this year, said of his first Tour stage win. “I am a little tired, but … I had a calm first week to help Alberto. It broke my heart to see him leave.”

Overall, the Italian leads second-place Valverde by 4:37, and third-place Bardet by 4:50.

Sunday’s stage offers some relief after the Alps: Stage 15 is a flat 222km course from Tallard to Nimes.