Koen de Kort finished 15th after a day in the break on stage 14 in the Tour de France, as Stephen Cummings took the stage victory. Warren Barguil raced to 35th and holds on to his 11th place in the GC.

Stage 14 went from Rodez to Mende, with 4 registered climbs and 178.5km the finale was particular challenging. After a fast start with lots of attacks two groups of 7 and 13 riders merged into one large breakaway group and Koen de Kort was included. Team Sky controlled the gap at the bunch.

A very difficult finale started with an attack in the breakaway group, as the bunch accepted the fact that the stage victory was gone. Koen de Kort rode an attentive finale but was unable to follow the first on the final climb. Three riders got away as Stephen Cummings (MTN Qhubeka) won the stage. Koen de Kort came in at 15th.

In the meantime, the GC contenders battled for their position and Christopher Froome (Team Sky) turned out to be the strongest once again. Warren Barguil raced to 35th and holds on to his 11th place in the GC.

After the finish Koen de Kort said:

“Our goal was to be in the break. Simon [Geschke] already attacked a couple of times and I joined him, which turned out to be the right decision. After 50km the chase efforts of IAM brought us back in the bunch and directly after that I went again. This time we were gone.

“I enjoyed my day. It was my first time in five Tours that I was part of the breakaway that survives until the finish. I knew that my chances for victory weren’t very large because the finish did not suit me well.”