Greig Leach

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) was less than confident about his ability to stay with Nibali and the other GC men on the final ascent of a big mountain in the 2014 Tour de France, so he decided he would use his skill as a descender to put time into his rivals. He joined up with Jon Izaguirre, who had dropped back from the early break, and John Gadret, as the threesome got into as tight of an aerodynamic tuck as possible, and let it rip down the back side of the Col du Tourmalet. They opened a bit of a gab on the peloton, although Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) was able to stay within side of the fleeing Movistar team. Others just behind Valverde on the GC, didn't possess the same level of daring that the man in second place over all has, so it was a good time to gain time.