Joaquim Rodriguez animated today's big mountain stage of the Tour de France and got close to a stage win when he was passed by Vincenzo Nibali less than 2km from the finish. However, the Spaniard insists that his goal was the mountains jersey which he took off Tony Martin's shoulders.

On a stage packed with seven climbs, Team Katusha’s Joaquim Rodriguez went on a quest to collect point for the polka dot King of the Mountains jersey and try for the stage win. ‘Purito’ earned the polka dot jersey and just missed a little something to take the stage win.

"My main objective for today was to take the mountain jersey, which is why I went in the breakaway," he said. "Today would have been nice to win a stage too, but it was a really hard day and I saw that the yellow jersey group never let us have enough time. Our maximum advantage was around four minute. So I knew on the final climb they would be close to us.

"In the race I tried to do my best. I attacked on the final climb and gave my all to be in front as long as possible, but I knew the group of GC contenders was really close. When Vincenzo (Nibali) caught up to me, I tried to go with him, but in that moment I was empty. But I took the mountain jersey and I am happy with it!

"My condition is still not at 100% but I am improving. Now I will fight to keep this jersey and I hope in one of the stages in the third week I can go in the break and try to win a stage.

“This was an important day for me because there were many points up for grab in the KOM competition. At the end, there has been one kilometer too much for me to win the stage.

"But the crash of Alberto Contador is a bigger disaster. He is a very active rider and he would have fired up the race in the Pyrenees.

"I've missed out on the stage win for a very little but I also lost by a lot compared to Nibali who was super strong. I was aware that my advantage was probably not enough for winning the stage. Two minutes lead in the second last climb was too tight.

"I haven't decided yet if my goal will be the polka dot jersey or a stage win. One goal is a call for the other one. In the mountains, I'll have to break away for collecting points and that's also the best thing to do for winning a stage.”

Rodriguez saw the opportunity to attack with 19 km to go and then again challenge Michal Kwiatkowski with 5,3 km to go, immediately creating a gap to his former breakaway companion. A solid attack from former race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) at 3 km to go put the Italian champion and the former Spanish champion in a head-to-head battle with the former able to get the best of Rodriguez in the final kilometer. Tackling the final 20% gradient, it was Nibali winning his second stage in this year’s Tour. Joining him in the top three were FdJ’s Thibaut Pinot and Alejandro Valverde of Movistar. Rodriguez completed the stage in ninth place and holds a commanding lead in the King of the Mountains competition.

"I think we can be satisfied with today’s stage," explained team director Torsten Schmidt. "Katusha was very active with Joaquim during the entire day. We were in front and we did a strong race.

"Our goal was to win the jersey and we executed that plan perfectly. Plus “Purito” was very close to a stage win, but let’s go step-by-step. We had a nice first week with podiums, breaks, strong sprints and now this jersey. The team looks strong and the stage victory is still to come."

The Tour de France has now traveled 1785 km and it’s time for a rest. Tuesday brings the first rest day after ten continuous days of racing. Competition begins again on Wednesday in Besançon and ends in Oyonnax after 187,5 km. The course features a series of small climbs at the end, making for a perfect jumping off point for a strong rider.