Dutchman Bauke Mollema launched a bold solo run to win Stage 14 of the Tour de France on Saturday while UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar kept a firm grip on the leader's yellow jersey.
Austrian Patrick Konrad took second place, with Colombia's Sergio Higuita coming home third, both one minute four seconds off the pace.
Slovenian Pogacar retained the overall lead at the end of a hot day in southwestern France, on roads peppered with short but brutal climbs.
French rider Guillaume Martin came home in a chasing group to move up seven places in the general classification and is now second in the standings, just over four minutes behind reigning champions Pogacar.
The 2018 champion Geraint Thomas and world champion Julian Alaphilippe dropped off the back of the peloton with 20km to go when it became clear the overall leader's chasing group would not catch the escape.
“It’s amazing. I’m super happy,” said Mollema. “I was feeling good so I thought let’s go from far. I knew I had a good chance to make it to the end, I paced myself and when I saw I had a minute at the top of the last climb I knew it was done.
“A few days ago, I had checked the course on Google Maps, especially the last 60 kilometres. I waited for the right moment to attack.
“I had the confidence I could ride alone and keep going for a long time. Normally I can pace myself really well. When I got to the top of the last climb with 50 seconds I knew I could make it.”
The 34-year-old said he learnt from his mistakes in the Giro d'Italia earlier this year. “I made some mistakes, after one week only I was too eager to go in a breakaway and I spent too much energy, that killed me for the rest of the Giro,” he added.
Canadian Michael Woods snatched the polka-dot jersey for the mountains classification despite a crash after a two-man battle over the climbs with Dutch Wout Poels.
“I'm the first Canadian to wear it and I'm proud of that,” said Woods. “On the crash, it's my fault, I got in front because it was a dangerous descent but my wheel slipped.”
