Pierrick Fedrigo of France outsprinted fellow escapee Salvatore Commesso to win the 180.5 kms 14th stage of the Tour de France this afternoon after a nasty crash 39 kms from the finish.
American Christian Vandevelde was third, three seconds adrift.
Spaniard Oscar Pereiro Sio finished in the peloton seven seconds off Fedrigo to retain the yellow jersey.
Belgian Rik Verbrugghe (Cofidis), Spaniard David Canada (Saulnier) and German Matthias Kessler (T-Mobile) who belonged to the leading group with Comesso and Fedrigo were all victims of the crash.
Verbrugghe hit a barrier and went over. Canada also slammed the barrier and brought down Kessler.
The Belgian and the Spaniard were transported to hospital by helicopter with a suspected broken knee and a fractured collar-bone respectively.
Kessler, winner of the third stage, remounted his bike apparently unscathed.
On Monday, the riders will welcome a rest day before facing three consecutive stages of high mountains climbing in the Alps.
