Digne-les-Baines, France (My Sportsbook) - Spain's Oscar Freire won a sprint to the finish line to capture Stage 14 of the Tour de France, while Cadel Evans of Australia maintained his overall lead in cycling's most prestigious event.

Freire completed the 194.5-kilometer jaunt from Nimes to Digne-les-Baines in a time of four hours, 13 minutes and eight seconds for his first stage win in this year's Tour and the fourth stage win of his career.

Leonardo Duque of Colombia finished just a bike length behind in second place, while Germany's Erik Zabel wound up third.

A total of 90 riders were credited with the same time as the stage winner, including Evans and each of the main contenders.

Evans finished 28th on Saturday and remained one second ahead of Luxembourg's Frank Schleck in the overall standings. Schleck was 34th on Saturday.

American Christian Vande Velde placed 21st on Saturday and remained third overall, 38 seconds behind Evans, while Austria's Bernhard Kohl finished 32nd in the stage and stayed 46 seconds behind the overall leader.

Denis Menchov of Russia is still 57 seconds off the pace in fifth place, followed by Spain's Carlos Sastre and Luxembourg's Kim Kirchen, who are 1:28 and 1:56, respectively, behind Evans.

For the second consecutive day, France's Sylvain Chavanel broke away from the pack about seven kilometers from the finish in an effort to win the stage. Again, though, he was swallowed up by the peloton with about two kilometers remaining.

Freire made a burst to the front in the final 100 meters and held on to cross the line first.

"In the last kilometer I was in a good position, but the speed wasn't all that quick," said Freire. "We started the sprint just 250 meters before the finish and it was a little close, but in the last 100 meters I believed I had it won. I did a good sprint."

It won't be a sprint on Sunday, as the 15th stage takes place in the Alps. The 183 kilometer trek starts in Embrun and crosses into Italy, finishing in the ski resort of Prato Nevoso. It features three steep climbs, including one at the very finish.

"I've done the climbs before and the one at the finish is quite harsh," said Evans. "On paper it looks reasonably difficult, but I think we may arrive in a larger group than what many are expecting; I'd say there'll be 20 or 30 riders at the finish, maybe a few more depending on how the race is played out."

After Sunday's difficult stage, Monday will mark the second of two rest days for the riders.