Bob Jungels was given the green light to join a breakaway and he was quick to bridge across to the early escapees in the opening kilometers of the 178.5-kilomter stage 14 Saturday.

The Tour de France transition stages give a chance to those not riding for GC to battle for stage glory, and Jungels, 22, knew today’s stage was a perfect opportunity to test his growing form.

The breakaway transformed from 24 riders to eight before finally settling in at 20.  Motivated, Bob Jungels was part of each configuration.

“When the first group went with Barguil and Rolland went they were close in the GC so they chased behind,” explained Jungels about the early action in Saturday’s stage. “Everyone was pissed [at them] in the group and told them to drop, but they were pretty stubborn.

“Then again a group went away with five guys and I jumped and Sagan came up to me just before a downhill – I think that was pretty much the craziest downhill in my entire life! I don’t know how we made it down.

"At the bottom we had caught the group and then it was a pity that these 10 guys came back because I think with the small group I had more chances.”

The breakaway group stayed together over the long category two climb before the attacking materialized in the closing kilometers.

Despite two men dangling out front with a small lead, it all came down to the last steep three-kilometer ascent which topped out 1.5-kilometers to the finish. The attacks quickly sorted the best climbers as Jungels held his own pace to the top to finish in 8th place for the day.

“I had never done the last climb and my radio had stopped working, but I knew it was hard at 3kms at 10% on paper, and I think I did all I could. I was well placed to start it and I took my rhythm. It was just too steep for me to follow the best guys; normally, I have no problem with the length of a climb, but I am just too big for such a steep climb,” Jungels said.

“In the end I caught two guys; I could use my power. In my eyes I did everything I could, and I know Alain (Gallopin, director) thought I did too much work in the break, but for me a lot of times it is easier to ride with the guys. They were not riding really organized in the break and if you are all the time up and down it can cost more energy and nerves than just turning at the front.”

It was the strongest legs that crested the punishing uphill, but the savviest rider who won the stage. Steve Cummings (MTN-Qhebeka) came from behind to catch Thibaut Pinot (FDJ.fr) and Romain Bardet (AG2R-La Mondiale) on the descent, and pushed the envelope of risk around the final bends to take a come-from-behind, nail-biting victory.

Although Jungels could not respond to the surges on the steep gradient he rode a strong pace to finish in 8th place (+32”).

“To be honest I did not feel good the first day after the rest day, but in the past two days I got my good feeling back,” Jungels added. “I was there today like planned. Of course, I had to expend quite a lot of energy to get in the breakaway, the other guys needed to stay with Bauke, so I was pretty much alone to get in a move. It all worked out, and I am happy with my effort.”

After the exhilarating stage finish was contested all eyes turned to the GC fight behind, however, Chris Froome (Sky) had an answer to each and every attack, and even gave the last punch to cross the line first from the favorites despite numerous jabs from Nairo Quintana (Movistar).

Bauke Mollema finished moments later with a small elite group to maintain his 10th place in the GC.  The only changes to the leaderboard were Vincenzo Nibali leaping from 9th into 8th, and Tejay van Garderen dropping from second to third.

“It was a big fight to get in a break for the first 50kms and it was a really hard start and really hard day. I was feeling quite good today, and after the break went it was finally a little more easy. But the last climb was three kilometers and really steep and I knew there would be attacks. I just tried to have a good position at the bottom and then just go full gas to the top,” Mollema said.

“There were some attacks already after 1km of climbing, and I couldn’t follow those and stayed at my own pace. It was a really hard climb.  I was with most of the guys who are around me in the classification.  Gesink pulled the biggest part of the climb and in the descent I helped him so we wouldn’t lose too much time.”