Tour de France: Cummings wins his first stage
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Britain’s Steve Cummings has won his first stage in the Tour de France.
The MTN- Quebeka rider was part of a 20-man breakaway group that battled its way along the 178 kilometres between Rodez and Mende.
Despite not being as up-and-down as Stage 13, it featured the Côte de La Croix Neuve, categorised as the steepest climb in the Tour de France, avergaging a 10.1% gradient over 3 kilometres.
Former Sky Team rider Cummings pipped Frenchmen Romain Bardet and Thibault Pinot to seal the victory for his wild card South African team.
Meanwhile, Chris Froome extended his lead in the yellow jersey to 3 minutes 10 seconds as Tejay Van Garderen struggled on the steep climb to the finish in Mende.
The US rider has slipped to third behind Movistar’s Nairo Quintana from Colombia who is now second.
Despite the four climbs that are expected in Sunday’s Stage 15 from Mende to Valence, it is sure to end with a sprint finish as the final 75 kilometres are downhill.