Matthews wins TDF stage 14, Froome retakes yellow

Rodez - Australian Michael Matthews won the 14th stage of the Tour de France on Saturday as Chris Froome retook the yellow jersey from Fabio Aru.

Matthews won comfortably ahead of Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet in the tough uphill sprint finish to the 181.5km stage from Blagnac to Rodez, with Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen third.

"A lot of planning went into that day, not just today weeks or months of planning, to deliver a win like that from my whole team," said Matthews.

"I targeted this stage from the beginning of the year, I've been gearing my efforts around that finish and it came true."

Aru was caught out well down in the peloton as gaps appeared in the finale, allowing reigning champion Froome to retake the jersey he'd lost to the Italian on Thursday.

"It's a great day today, I didn't think I could get back the jersey on a stage like this," admitted a smiling Froome.

In this type of finish, positioning is crucial and Aru failed to manoeuvre himself to the front of the peloton in a rapid last 10km.

Froome did, though, and was in the right place when the sprint for the line started in the last 600 metres.

The Briton finished seventh, just a second behind Matthews, while Aru was down in 30th, 25 seconds further adrift.

Froome now leads the race by 19sec from Aru with Romain Bardet third at 23sec having also lost four seconds to Froome in the finish, although gained two on the yellow jersey.

Of the overall contenders, only Rigoberto Uran and Dan Martin stuck with Froome.

Uran remains fourth but closed in to 29sec off the lead, with Martin also gaining six seconds and now at 1:26 in sixth, just behind Froome's Sky team-mate Mikel Landa at 1:17.

Several riders in the top 10 overall were caught out with Nairo Quintana and Alberto Contador finishing 23rd and 24th, 22sec behind Matthews.

But the biggest loser was Aru, who found himself near the back of the peloton as it was strung out almost in single-file in the speedy downhill section before the uphill finish.

It showed the importance of a strong team and what was notable in the finish was the massed ranks of yellow helmeted Sky riders near the front, while the yellow shirt of Aru was well back.

"Thanks to my team-mates for staying at the front in the end," said Froome.

"Michal Kwiatkowski did great work at the end there and I have to thank him for retaking the jersey."

Having lost his lead on Thursday on a steep finish, Froome retook time off all his rivals barring Uran and Martin.

Those two may be only fourth and fifth but are increasingly looking like Froome's strongest challengers.

Results from stage 14 of the Tour de France, a 181.5km ride from Blagnac to Rodez on Saturday:

1. Michael Matthews (AUS/SUN) 4hrs 21min 56sec.

2. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) same time.

3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/DDT) at 0:01.

4. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/QST) 0:01.

5. Jay McCarthy (AUS/BOR) 0:01.

6. Sonny Colbrelli (ITA/BAH) 0:01.

7. Chris Froome (GBR/SKY) 0:01.

8. Daniel Martin (IRL/QST) 0:01.

9. Rigoberto Uran (COL/CAN) 0:01.

10. Tiesj Benoot (BEL/LOT) 0:05.

11. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 0:05.

12. Zdenek Stybar (CZE/QST) 0:05.

13. Simon Yates (GBR/ORI) 0:05.

14. Jan Bakelants (BEL/ALM) 0:05.

15. Paul Martens (GER/LNL) 0:05.

16. Davide Cimolai (ITA/FDJ) 0:12.

17. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA/COF) 0:12.

18. Simon Clarke (AUS/CAN) 0:12.

19. Marco Marcato (ITA/EAU) 0:15.

20. Mikel Landa (ESP/SKY) 0:15.

21. Lilian Calmejane (FRA/DEN) 0:20.

22. Damiano Caruso (ITA/BMC) 0:20.

23. Nairo Quintana (COL/MOV) 0:22.

24. Alberto Contador (ESP/TRE) 0:22.

25. George Bennett (NZL/LNL) 0:22.

26. Oliver Naesen (BEL/ALM) 0:25.

27. Gianluca Brambilla (ITA/QST) 0:25.

28. Louis Meintjes (RSA/EAU) 0:25.

29. Emanuel Buchmann (GER/BOR) 0:25.

30. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) 0:25.

31. Alexis Vuillermoz (FRA/ALM) 0:25.

32. Daryl Impey (RSA/ORI) 0:25.

33. Laurent Pichon (FRA/TFO) 0:25.

34. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/DEN) 0:25.

35. Romain Hardy (FRA/TFO) 0:25.

36. John Degenkolb (GER/TRE) 0:30.

37. Carlos Betancur (COL/MOV) 0:30.

38. Sergio Henao (COL/SKY) 0:30.

39. Pierre Latour (FRA/ALM) 0:30.

40. Marco Minnaard (NED/AJW) 0:30.

41. Guillaume Martin (FRA/AJW) 0:33.

42. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/KAT) 0:33.

43. Angelo Tulik (FRA/DEN) 0:33.

44. Tony Gallopin (FRA/LOT) 0:43.

45. Brice Feillu (FRA/TFO) 0:47.

46. Serge Pauwels (BEL/DDT) 0:47.

47. Ben Swift (GBR/EAU) 0:49.

48. Frederik Backaert (BEL/AJW) 0:52.

49. Pawel Poljanski (POL/BOR) 0:52.

50. Bauke Mollema (NED/TRE) 0:52.

51. Nikias Arndt (GER/SUN) 0:52.

52. Warren Barguil (FRA/SUN) 0:52.

53. Dion Smith (NZL/AJW) 0:52.

54. Adam Hansen (AUS/LOT) 0:52.

55. Julien Vermote (BEL/QST) 0:57.

56. Cyril Gautier (FRA/ALM) 0:59.

57. Mathias Frank (SUI/ALM) 0:59.

58. Jens Keukeleire (BEL/ORI) 1:10.

59. Nils Politt (GER/KAT) 1:10.

60. Diego Ulissi (ITA/EAU) 1:10.

61. Marcus Burghardt (GER/BOR) 1:10.

62. Andrey Zeits (KAZ/AST) 1:14.

63. Maxime Bouet (FRA/TFO) 1:15.

64. Nathan Brown (USA/CAN) 1:15.

65. Thomas Degand (BEL/AJW) 1:15.

66. Ben Gastauer (LUX/ALM) 1:15.

67. Axel Domont (FRA/ALM) 1:15.

68. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP/TRE) 1:15.

69. Darwin Atapuma (COL/EAU) 1:15.

70. Mikel Nieve (ESP/SKY) 1:15.

71. Tiago Machado (POR/KAT) 1:15.

72. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ) 1:22.

73. Daniele Bennati (ITA/MOV) 1:25.

74. Pierre-Luc Perichon (FRA/TFO) 1:27.

75. Rudy Molard (FRA/FDJ) 1:32.

76. Olivier Le Gac (FRA/FDJ) 1:34.

77. Maciej Bodnar (POL/BOR) 1:34.

78. Tony Martin (GER/KAT) 1:34.

79. Koen de Kort (NED/TRE) 1:34.

80. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/ORI) 1:34.

81. Robert Kiserlovski (CRO/KAT) 1:43.

82. Kristijan urasek (CRO/EAU) 1:43.

83. Michael Albasini (SUI/ORI) 1:45.

84. Esteban Chaves (COL/ORI) 1:57.

85. Michal Kwiatkowski (POL/SKY) 1:59.

86. Scott Thwaites (GBR/DDT) 2:03.

87. Michael Schar (SUI/BMC) 2:03.

88. Christophe Laporte (FRA/COF) 2:06.

89. Jack Bauer (NZL/QST) 2:18.

90. Thomas De Gendt (BEL/LOT) 2:18.

91. Michael Valgren (DEN/AST) 2:18.

92. Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA/DDT) 2:23.

93. Tsgabu Grmay (ETH/BAH) 2:26.

94. Stefan Kung (SUI/BMC) 2:27.

95. Cyril Lemoine (FRA/COF) 2:31.

96. Maurits Lammertink (NED/KAT) 2:46.

97. Andrey Amador (CRC/MOV) 3:04.

98. Alberto Bettiol (ITA/CAN) 3:09.

99. Jesus Herrada (ESP/MOV) 3:09.

100. Vasil Kiryienka (BLR/SKY) 3:19.

101. Jaco Venter (RSA/DDT) 5:26.

102. Reto Hollenstein (SUI/KAT) 6:04.

103. Simon Geschke (GER/SUN) 6:28.

104. Danilo Wyss (SUI/BMC) 6:28.

105. Timo Roosen (NED/LNL) 6:28.

106. Florian Vachon (FRA/TFO) 6:28.

107. Luke Rowe (GBR/SKY) 6:28.

108. Janez Brajkovic (SLO/BAH) 6:28.

109. Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ/AST) 6:28.

110. Tom Leezer (NED/LNL) 6:28.

111. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/DEN) 6:28.

112. Nicolas Roche (IRL/BMC) 6:28.

113. Yohann Gene (FRA/DEN) 6:28.

114. Thomas Boudat (FRA/DEN) 6:57.

115. Dylan van Baarle (NED/CAN) 8:00.

116. Laurens ten Dam (NED/SUN) 11:05.

117. Mike Teunissen (NED/SUN) 11:05.

118. Yukiya Arashiro (JPN/BAH) 12:03.

119. Markel Irizar (ESP/TRE) 12:03.

120. Julien Simon (FRA/COF) 12:03.

121. Alessandro De Marchi (ITA/BMC) 12:16.

122. Andre Greipel (GER/LOT) 13:17.

123. Ramon Sinkeldam (NED/SUN) 13:17.

124. Bernhard Eisel (AUT/DDT) 13:17.

125. Marcel Sieberg (GER/LOT) 13:17.

126. Adrien Petit (FRA/DEN) 13:17.

127. Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (BEL/AJW) 13:17.

128. Jasha Sutterlin (GER/MOV) 13:17.

129. Rick Zabel (GER/KAT) 13:17.

130. Patrick Bevin (NZL/CAN) 13:17.

131. Rudiger Selig (GER/BOR) 13:17.

132. Lars Bak (DEN/LOT) 13:17.

133. Fabio Sabatini (ITA/QST) 13:17.

134. Matteo Bono (ITA/EAU) 13:17.

135. Luis Angel Mate (ESP/COF) 13:17.

136. Robert Wagner (GER/LNL) 13:17.

137. Roy Curvers (NED/SUN) 13:17.

138. Nicolas Edet (FRA/COF) 13:17.

139. Vegard Laengen (NOR/EAU) 13:17.

140. Damien Howson (AUS/ORI) 13:17.

141. Primoz Roglic (SLO/LNL) 13:17.

142. Imanol Erviti (ESP/MOV) 13:17.

143. Jonathan Castroviejo (ESP/MOV) 13:17.

144. Yoann Offredo (FRA/AJW) 13:17.

145. Elie Gesbert (FRA/TFO) 13:17.

146. Javier Moreno (ESP/BAH) 13:17.

147. Eduardo Sepulveda (ARG/TFO) 13:17.

148. Christian Knees (GER/SKY) 13:17.

149. Daniel Navarro (ESP/COF) 13:17.

150. Andriy Grivko (UKR/AST) 13:17.

151. Perrig Quemeneur (FRA/DEN) 13:17.

152. Florian Senechal (FRA/COF) 13:17.

153. Dimitri Claeys (BEL/COF) 13:17.

154. Ondrej Cink (CZE/BAH) 13:17.

155. Andrea Pasqualon (ITA/AJW) 13:17.

156. Jurgen Roelandts (BEL/LOT) 13:17.

157. Grega Bole (SLO/BAH) 13:17.

158. Michael Gogl (AUT/TRE) 13:17.

159. Jarlinson Pantano (COL/TRE) 13:17.

160. Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev (KAZ/AST) 13:17.

161. Dylan Groenewegen (NED/LNL) 13:17.

162. Andrew Talansky (USA/CAN) 13:17.

163. Romain Sicard (FRA/DEN) 13:17.

164. Amael Moinard (FRA/BMC) 13:17.

165. Marco Haller (AUT/KAT) 13:17.

166. Albert Timmer (NED/SUN) 13:17.

167. Pierre Rolland (FRA/CAN) 13:17.

168. Mathew Hayman (AUS/ORI) 13:17.

169. Stephen Cummings (GBR/DDT) 13:17.

170. Marcel Kittel (GER/QST) 13:17.

171. Dmitriy Gruzdev (KAZ/AST) 13:17.

172. Pieter Vanspeybrouck (BEL/AJW) 13:17.

173. Borut Bozic (SLO/BAH) 13:17.

174. Taylor Phinney (USA/CAN) 13:17.