Rafal Majka managed to score a single KOM point on today's first climb which allowed him to take the mountains jersey in the Tour de France. Being up against Vincenzo Nibali and Joaquim Rodriguez, however, the Pole is under no illusions that it will be an easy jersey defence in the rest of the Pyrenean stages.

Going into today's stage of the Tour de France, Rafal Majka was equal on points with Joaquim Rodriguez but he started the race with the intention of scoring a point on the first climb to claim the polka-dot jersey. The Pole accomplished his mission and so will start tomorrow's stage on the front row alongside the other holders of the distinctive jerseys.

“This morning, I wasn't sure I'd wear the polka dot jersey tonight," he said. "I was watching the breakaways and I tried to score one point at the first KOM sprint. I was fighting with my compatriot Michal Kwiatkowski who was looking for riding away from the bunch. I passed him on the line.

"I'm glad Michael Rogers won a stage after I did it but the Tour de France is not finished. There are two hard stages to come. We'll try to do something.

"It's difficult for me to defend the polka dot jersey because there are many points in contention and I have two serious adversaries with Joaquim Rodriguez and Vincenzo Nibali.”