Michael Albasini reveals devastation of missing individual stage glory after being pipped at finish

MICHAEL Albasini has revealed the devastation of missing individual stage glory after being pipped in this year's closest stage finish.

MICHAEL Albasini has revealed the devastation of missing individual stage glory after being pipped in the closest finish of the centenary Tour de France.

The Orica-GreenEDGE opportunist was nailed in a photo-finish yesterday after a pulsating 14th stage, won by Italian Matteo Trentin.

Albasini was cut down in the final few metres by Mark Cavendish's lead out rider Trentin, who edged the Swiss by half a wheel in Lyon after a 191km ride from Saint-Pourcain-sur-Sioule.

"It's a little bit frustrating, but is not the time to (bury) the head in the sand," Albasini said. "It's the Tour and you have to think forward and it's coming up more stages for me and my teammates and maybe it works out on other days."

Albasini was chasing his second stage win of the race, after OGE's team time-trial victory in stage four.

"We have more stages," he said. "The only mistake was the last sprint. I start a little bit too early.

"I was going full gas. I had no reserves to go any faster.

"Just happens in the Tour to lose a sprint like this. It hurts, but that's the Tour."

American Andrew Talansky was third as the overall standings remained unchanged, leaving Sky's Chris Froome with a 2min 28sec lead from Dutchman Bauke Mollema.

Cadel Evans remained Australia's best-placed rider in 13th, 6min 54sec behind Froome before last night's assault on Mont Ventoux.

Albasini caught Frenchman Julien Simon 1km from the finish and kicked clear inside the last 400m.

He led until the last 5m before Trentin gave Omega Pharma Quickstep its second win in as many days.

The Swiss allrounder's close call came as Colombian Nairo Quintana continued to be touted as the most exciting new grand tour talent.

The 23-year-old, who is contesting his first Tour, is tipped to go on to be a multiple winner. He was eighth overall, at 5:18.

"We will see what happens now," he said. "I am very young. I will try my best, but I came first to get to know the race."

Elevated to Movistar captaincy after Alejando Valverde's stage 13 problems, Quintana was aware of his growing profile.

"I am going to keep doing my thing. I don't want to change," he said.

"I know people are taking more notice of me, but I am trying to handle it well."

Quintana is one of several emerging Colombian riders starring in Europe.

Rigoberto Uran (Sky) was second ahead of Evans in May's Giro d'Italia while Carlos Betancur (Ag2r La Mondiale) won the best young rider's jersey at the same race.