RODEZ, (France): Australian Michael Matthews won the 14th stage of the Tour de France on Saturday as Chris Froome retook the yellow jersey from Fabio Aru.

Matthews won comfortably ahead of Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet in the tough uphill sprint finish to the 181.5km stage from Blagnac to Rodez, with Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen third.

“A lot of planning went into that day, not just today weeks or months of planning, to deliver a win like that from my whole team,” said Matthews.

“I targeted this stage from the beginning of the year, I’ve been gearing my efforts around that finish and it came true.”

Aru was caught out well down in the peloton as gaps appeared in the finale, allowing reigning champion Froome to retake the jersey he’d lost to the Italian on Thursday.

Froome did, though, and was in the right place when the sprint for the line started in the last 600 metres.

The Briton finished seventh, just a second behind Matthews, while Aru was down in 30th, 25 seconds further adrift.—AFP