Tour de France 2023: Rodríguez wins stage 14 as Vingegaard keeps yellow jersey – live | Tour de France 2023

The top five on General Classification after stage 14

Rodriguez has just been speaking to reporters about today’s stage win. The Spanish rider who is celebrating his first Tour de France stage victory says:

“It’s incredible. Being here was a dream, getting a victory is incredible in the best race of the world. It’s something I’ve always wanted to achieve and now I’ve got a victory.

[I’m] super happy, super grateful and happy for the team for all their work and believing in me. It wouldn’t have been possible without them.”

Asked if he thought the stage win would be possible when he was dropped going up Col de Joux Plane, he says honestly: “no.” He says he wanted to take advantage of the descent, which he was confident on and again praises his team, and in particular yesterday’s stage winner and fellow Ineos Grenadier rider, Michel Kwiatkowski.

“Tomorrow is going to be a big day also,” he says.

The top five in stage 14

If you like racing stats and an interesting fact to share with your friends, take a look at this on today’s stage winner, Carlos Rodriguez.

Rodriguez takes the win on stage 14!!

1km to go: Rodriguez has played a blinder on the descent so far. He’s been flying down with maximum speeds of 95kmh.

Ciccone is awarded today’s most combative rider

5km to go: Pogacar and Vingegaard are glued to each other, so it doesn’t look like there’ll be huge changes at the top of the GC today despite all the excitement. Rodriguez, though, is extending his lead and if he wins, it will be two stage wins in a row for Ineos Grenadiers.

8km to go: Rodriguez looks hungry for the stage win as he attacks on the descent. He could make some big gains on the GC here.

10km to go: Rodriguez and Adam Yates have managed to get back to Pogacar and Vingegaard. The four of them start the final descent together.

12km to go: Vingegaard attacks over the top of the climb but Pogacar immediately counters. They’re back together quickly. It’s an epic battle.

12km to go: Oh no. Pogacar tries to attack but gets blocked by the motorbike and the throngs of fans on the roadside.

13km to go: It’s cagey at the moment. Will one of them attack before the top of the climb? I am loving the roadside excitement and outfits. There’s a man in a flamingo inflatable.

Rodriguez is now 45sec back and Hindley is at almost 2min. These front two are on a different level.

13km to go: Vingegaard has caught Pogacar. Will he counter attack? It looks like he’s winding it up…

14km to go: It’s 2.3km to go to the top of the climb and the gap is stabilising around 4-5sec. This is too close to call and the fans on the roadside are loving it.

15km to go: Vingegaard looks to be clawing his way back. Has Pogacar gone too early?

15km to go: Pogacar attacks. Vingegaard can’t hold on. Big move.

16km to go: It’s around 4km to the top of the Col de Joux Plane, and have to say, it’s looking like one tough day at the office for the riders.

16km to go: Hindley and Rodriguez have now been dropped. Adam Yates is putting in a big turn for Pogacar, while Vingegaard sticks close to his rival’s wheel.

17km to go: Of the other teams’ GC contenders, only Hindley and Rodriguez remain. Gall has just dropped off.

20km to go: We now have the familiar sight of Sepp Kuss pushing hard on the front with Vingegaard on his wheel and Pogacar close behind. Which one is going to attack first?

Declan from Galway emailed earlier to say he was at the foot of the Col de Joux Plane in a bar, which sounded lovely. He says he is “thankfully out of the heat” and had ridden over to Morzine and back this morning.

21km to go: Pello Bilbao has been dropped along with Simon Yates.

21km to go: Wout van Aert looked like he was dropped but found a burst of energy and has accelerated to the front. Putting in a final dig it seems.

22km to go: David Gaudu and Simon Yates are struggling as Rafał Majka comes to the front to set the pace for UAE Team Emirates.

23km to go: Here’s an update on the GC riders still in the front group:

• Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)

• Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates) +9sec

• Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) +2min 51sec

• Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers) +4min 48sec

• Adam Yates (UAE Emirates) +5min 03sec

• Simon Yates (Team Jayco–AlUla) +5min 04sec

• Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) +5min 25sec

• David Gaudu Groupama–FDJ +6min 52sec

• Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) +07min 11sec

• Felix Gall (AG2R Citroën T) +10min 33sec

• Guillaume Martin +10min 46sec

Col de Jeux Plane: The one we’ve all been waiting for…the hors catégorie Col de Jeux Plane is a beast. It stretches for 11.6km and has an average gradient of 8.5% but a maximum gradient of 14%. Ouch. It promises to make the riders suffer, especially following those three first category climbs they’ve already pedalled up. It’s coming up in about 7km.

36km to go: Simon Yates (Team Jayco–AlUla) has also been dropped from the GC group and is 13sec behind. He’ll need to catch them before the base of the Col de Jeux Plane.

39km to go: Pidcock has failed to catch the GC group on the descent and now they’re on flatter terrain the gap is going out. He’s going to lose time today.

45km to go: Now we’re beating treated to footage of Pidcock descending. It’s a beautiful sight.

50km to go: Wout van Aert brings the GC group over the top of the climb, opening up a 30sec gap over Pidcock. What a performance from the Belgian.

51km to go: Pidcock has now dropped off the group with 1km to go. He’ll have to put those descending skills to the test if he’s going to get back to the group.

53km to go: Pidcock has managed to hold on during the steepest part of the climb. Will he be able to stay with the main group and go over the top with them?

59km to go: Tom Pidcock looks to be struggling with the high pace but is clinging on to the back of the GC group. There’s 4.5km to go.

Stage 14 withdrawals

57km to go: Ciccone is finally caught and the GC battle can begin in earnest.

59km to go: A last throw of the dice for Ciccone as he attacks Woods, who is swiftly swallowed up by the peloton.

Look away Ian from Dublin. Here’s one last glance at the Col de la Ramaz.

60km to go: Ciccone and Woods are the last two remaining members of the breakaway as Jumbo-Visma continue to push a high pace.

62km to go: Ciccone isn’t giving up. He knows he can get to within two points of Powless on the mountain classification if he makes it to the top of this climb first. He has Woods for company.

64km to go: The riders have hit the Col de la Ramaz. Jumbo-Visma have already knocked off another 20sec to leave the breakaway looking rather doomed. Ciccone and Woods aren’t giving up yet though.

Ramon Sinkeldam of Alpecin-Deceunick abandons

70km to go: It’s tough for the breakaway at the moment as the peloton are holding them at around 30sec. It’s difficult to see them staying away once the riders hit Col de la Ramaz.

Col de la Ramaz: Coming up next is the first category Col de la Ramaz, which is 1,619m high with an average gradient of 7.1% and 13.9 kilometres in length. It’s coming up in about 11km.

Ian from Dublin has emailed to say that this stage was used in last week’s Etape du Tour, which he rode. He’s not ready to see the Col de la Ramaz again so soon, it would seem.

Ciccone wins the intermediate sprint

Earlier I asked how you’re all watching today’s stage of the Tour. Here are some of the replies, with each very much setting the scene. Paulo is in a very hot Andalucia, Roger is over in the USA and cheering for Powless and Matthew has detailed his breakfast. It was a lump of French toast and bacon with (French) Canadian syrup, I’m told. Also, Aiden has tweeted from the Swedish island of Gotland to say hello.

88km to go: Led by Jumbo-Visma, the peloton have increased the pace and have reduced the gap to less than 20sec from the breakaway. Perhaps they are planning something on the next climb…

89km to go: Those ten points have moved Ciccone to within 12 points of Powless on the mountains classification jersey. Powless will have to dig deep to hold onto that polka dot jersey, with plenty of points yet play for today.

We’ll give you a round-up of who’s abandoned today at some point. I know there’s a few of you asking.

Justin from Bristol has emailed to pose a question: “Can I ask the audience, what’s been the most impactful accident in TdF history? Either the one that’s caused the most retirements, or the one that’s taken out the most Top 10 riders.” Thoughts?

97km to go: The gap to the peloton has gone over a minute for the first time today. Predicting some fireworks to come later in the stage with two big categorised climbs left to come: Col de La Rambaz and the Col de Joux Plane.

99km to go: Ciccone played that very cleverly, sitting on Woods’ wheel and attacking with 200m to go to get those 10 sweet points. Woods rolls over to take eight, before Landa and Pinot take six and four points respectively.

100km to go: Ciccone and Woods have gone clear, searching for the maximum mountain points. Who’s going to get the ten?