Europcar's Thomas Voeckler said that he had achieved what was necessary to remain in the yellow jersey after a tough series of climbs on Stage 14.
The Frenchman continues to surprise many on this year's Tour, and again on the climb to Plateau de Beille he remained neck and neck with some of the more fancied climbers, including Alberto Contador, Ivan Basso and the Schleck brothers, to retain the lead in the GC for a sixth successive day.
"That was the goal of the day, not to let someone go in the breakaway," Voeckler said. "We made the tempo behind and it was a good day, but also a hard day after yesterday's stage."
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