Tour de France 2014 Stage 12 highlights: Kristoff sprints to victory
Alexander Kristoff held off Peter Sagan in a sprint finish to claim victory in the 12th stage of the Tour de France from Bourg-en-Bresse to Saint-Etienne on Thursday.
The Team Katusha rider pounced over the final 500 metres to hold off Sagan (Cannondale), with the Slovakian forced to settle for his fourth second-place finish of this year's tour.
There was no change at the top of the overall standings, with Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) retaining his yellow jersey and his two minutes 23 seconds lead over Richie Porte (Team Sky), with Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) in third.
Australian Simon Clarke (Orica Greenedge) led for much of the stage and was joined out in front by Team Europcar pair Cyril Gautier and Perrig Quemeneur.
But, despite the best efforts of Clarke and Gautier, they were reeled in by the peloton with 5km of the stage remaining, leaving it open for the sprinters to have their day.
Twitter reaction
Riders reaction