May 24, 2014 (Oropa, Italy) – Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani-CSF delivered another victory for his team on Stage 14 from Agliè to Oropa, 164km timing his final attack on the uphill climb to the finish perfectly as he passed a tiring Dario Cataldo (Ita) Team Sky at the line for the win. Colombia’s Jarlinson Pantano took third.

Just prior Cataldo and Pantano had caught race leader Albert Timmer (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano on the last major climb and looked good for the final battle but Battaglin and Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre-Merida caught them with under 1km to go. Cataldo attacked when they passed the 250m mark as Polanc got dropped, but Pantano countered. Then Cataldo went again but this time it was Battaglin who was right there to pass him only metres from the line.

Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin Sharp joined a strong bid by Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar on the big Bielmonte climb but their efforts were in vain to catch the lead group of 20+ riders. Behind Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team and Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team kept a watchful eye as Nicolas Roche (Irl) Tinkoff-Saxo tried to escape from the front group upping the pace. But Roche was caught as Timmer played his final trump card only to be caught as well which set up the final battle. Hesjedal finished 13th on the day and sits 12th overall.

Results

1. Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Bardiani-CSF  4:34:41
2. Dario Cataldo (Ita) Team Sky
3. Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Colombia  0:07
4. Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre-Merida  0:17
5. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Tinkoff-Saxo  0:22
6. Albert Timmer (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano  0:26
7. Emanuele Sella (Ita) Androni Giocattoli  0:28
8. Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Lampre-Merida  0:33
9. Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Belisol  0:39
10. Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Orica Greenedge  0:54

13. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin Sharp    2:22
168. Svein Tuft (Can) Orica GreenEdge    32:04

GC after Stage 14

1. Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team  57:52:51
2. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team  0:32
3. Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo  1:35
4. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale  2:11
5. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team  2:33
6. Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team  3:04
7. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team  3:16
8. Wout Poels (Ned) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team  4:01
9. Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar  5:07
10. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Trek Factory Racing  5:13

12. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin Sharp    6:13
168. Svein Tuft (Can) Orica GreenEdge    2:51:36