Tour de France

Majka triumphs as Nibali extends lead

ESPN staff

July 23, 2014

Rafal Majka finished 29 seconds ahead of Giovanni Visconti to win the stage © Getty Images

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Rafal Majka claimed his second stage win of this year's Tour de France as yellow jersey wearer Vincenzo Nibali produced yet another impressive ride on stage 17.

Majka, the wearer of the polka dot jersey, finished 29 seconds ahead of Giovanni Visconti, with Nibali crossing the line in third place and 46 seconds down on the stage winner.

The 124.5-kilometre ride from Saint-Gaudens to Saint-Lary Pla d'Adet also saw Nibali extend his lead at the top of the general classification to five minutes and 26 seconds as second-placed rider Alejandro Valverde finished Wednesday's stage in 10th position.

On the fourth and final climb of the day, Majka broke clear from a chase group to then pass several riders before finding himself at the front of the race.

Majka leads the King of the Mountains classification by 31 points, and the Tinkoff rider told ITV4: "Thank you for my team. I'm really happy to go in the front, pass everybody and win the stage. Yesterday I went easy, now I have the polka dot jersey and I want to keep it until Paris."