Rabobank's Luis Leon Sanchez won stage fourteen of the Tour De France this afternoon.
This was a 191km stage from Limoux, which was staging a stage depart fro the first time, to Foix and saw Jean Christophe Peraud back at the start line after his wife had given birth to a girl and only hours after Fabian Cancellera's wife had done the same.
The weather was around 19 degrees for the start of the stage, which saw 163 riders set off for this stage in the Pyrenees.
Sergio Paulinho (RNT) was the first rider to attack but he was caught just before a crash took down two riders who were quickly back on their bikes.
Thomas Voeckler took the first climb of the day - the Col du Portel, before three stage winner Peter Sagan (LIQ), Paulinho (STB) and Kruiswijk (RAB attacked.
They were followed by an eight man group of Gilbert (BMC), Gautier (EUC), Izaguirre (EUS), Minard (ALM), Vorganov (KAT), Casar (FDJ), Sanchez (RAB) and Velits and subsequently caught to form an eleven man attack after 56kms.
This group were 1.12 ahead of the peloton with race leader Bradley Wiggins on the front and continued to stretch their lead. It was eleven minutes by the time they have reached the day's intermediate sprint at Tarascon. Green jersey wearing Peter Sagan took the twenty points on offer.
The gap went up to fifteen minutes as the escapers made their way down the D8 towards the second climb - the 1517m Port de Lars on the D18 with 64.5kms to go.
With rain coming down, Sergio Paulinho took the ten points on the top of Port de Lars and started on the descent.
Cyril Gautier had to take a spare bike after his chain fouled and he chased the ten escapees,some thirteen and a half minutes ahead of a peloton which had Mark Cavendish (pictured below) taking long stints on the front working for his Team Sky team mates Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome.
With 38.5 kilometres, the final climb of the day came on the category one Mur de Péguère.which is 1375m and has a gradient of 18% for the first two kilometres and saw plenty of of Brits on the mountain.
Luis Leon Sanchez took to the front, followed by Kruiswijk and Gilbert (pictured below with Steve Cummings) who then followed Sandy Casar who took the maximum points.
Over the summit and onto the D17, Casar shot away whilst Richie Porte took over at the front of the peloton for Sky. Heading for Burrett, Peter Sagan flew past Casar, followed by Izaguirre.
With 23.8kms to go, Cadel Evans suffered a puncture as Leipheimer crashed along with Kieslowski who was forced to abandon. Steve Cummings arrived at the spot where Evans had punctured but he too had suffered the same fate on a climb where cars were not allowed onto.
The race was called back to allow Evans to catch up but Europcar's Pierre Rolland decided to shoot off much to the disgust of the Sky team.
With 15.5kms to go, Bradley Wiggins punctured and was given a spare bike but quickly got back into the peloton which was 16.46 behind the escapers.
Evans punctured again on a road where the amount of punctures the riders were picking up was unreal with Nicholas Roche and Scarponi amongst the numbers suffering punctures and rumours of 28 tacks being thrown on the road spread.
Luis Leon Sanchez was first through the ten kilometres to go mark, 12 seconds ahead of Sagan, Casar, Izaguirre and Gilbert, who nearly lost it at Saint Jean De Verges.
Luis Leon Sanchez kept going and won the stage in a time of 4.50.29 with Sagan second, Casar third and Gilbert fourth.
Picture copyright of ASO
The peloton came 18.14 down.
Bradley Wiggins keeps his yellow jersey some 2.05 ahead of Chris Froome.
Stage 15 tomorrow is 158.5km long from Samatan to Pau.
Pictures copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM