Alejandro Valverde survived a very dangerous day in the Tour de France as crosswinds threatened to split the field. The Spaniard is now looking forward to the rest day and hopes to be at his best in the Pyrenees.

Norwegian Alexander Kristoff (KAT) took his second stage win in the 2014 Tour de France in the Nîmes finish on Sunday, after another long (222km), rainy, windy race in the approach to the Mediterranean, which the race will not touch after today's transfer to Carcassonne - where the second rest day will be held - and Tuesday's depart towards the Pyrenees.

Two riders, Jack Bauer (GRS) and Martin Elmiger (IAM) who kept very alive a breakaway that started from the gun and was caught with less than hundred meters to go took advantage of stress due to a dangerous finale but a final push from Europcar and Katusha to respond to the late attacks by Tony Martin (OPQ) secures a sprint finish which José Joaquín Rojas contested for 14th.

Not far from his countryman (22nd), Alejandro Valverde - always well protected by Plaza, Erviti, Izagirre and Herrada - was thankful about the final rest day coming:

"It's impossible to get a calm day here; it was really tough," he said. "The beginning was calm, but the rain, the attacks, the stress made it all difficult in the end.

"I will be good in the Pyrenees. I am fine and feel recovered. Tomorrow's rest day comes at a good time. Let's see what happens but all my rivals are pretty close which makes it exciting."

Three mountain stages and a TT on Saturday will decide his fate in the Grande Boucle this year.