Italian Matteo Trentin surged past Swiss rider Michael Albasini and American Andrew Talansky to win Stage 14 of the Tour de France as Chris Froome held on to the yellow jersey.
"I survived all the climbs and made a good sprint," said Trentin, who becomes the first Italian to win a stage in this year's Tour de France. "I knew that if I started from 200 meters I could win."
Froome, who lost more than a minute to two-time Tour winner Alberto Contador and Dutchman Bauke Mollema in Friday's Stage 13 sprint stage. Froome managed to stay out of any trouble keeping a 2:28 lead over Mollema and 2:45 over Contador.
"My teammates controlled the stage and did a great job," said Froome. "Just keeping an eye on things."
Mollema snatched second place, in the overall standings, after Alejandro Valverde was forced to stop to repair a punctured wheel that cost him a time that cost him dearly.
Stage 14, which started at Saint-Pourcain-sur-Sioule in central France to the east-central city of Lyon, features moderate category 3 climbs that can make it challenging for riders.
The tough hilly terrain is preparation for Sunday's Stage 15; a 21-kilometer ascent starting at Givors and end at the summit of Mont Ventoux - known as the "Giant of Provence", averaging 7.5 percent in gradient, the stage and ends at the mountain's summit.
"Tomorrow's stage is a really interesting one because obviously there will be an early breakaway that's going to go," said Sky Team coach Sir Dave Brailsford. "We wouldn't necessarily be that interested in bringing that breakaway back; we're looking at general classification not the stage win, but other teams will want to bring it back so that they can race for the stage."
Froome, who took the lead in early mountainous early stages of the Tour de France, is focused and has a firm strategy in mind with Mont Ventoux looming ahead.
"I'm concentrating on the GC (overall classification) but of course it would be great to win tomorrow. In cycling terms it would be like a dream come true," said Froome. "A lot of people have reason to attack now. A lot of people spent energy in the last couple of days, so it will be an interesting one."
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