PLA D'ADET, France -- On the last of four Pyrenees ascents, Rafal Majka winked at a French TV camera and tugged playfully at a motorcycle's antenna.
Even this late in the Tour de France, the Polish rider made winning look easy as he took Stage 17 on Wednesday.
For Vincenzo Nibali, the second ride in the mountains on France's border with Spain was more serious. "The Shark" nibbled yet more seconds away from several of his closest challengers, and the yellow jersey that he's worn for all but two days of this race seemed to fit just a little more tightly ahead of Sunday's race finish in Paris.
Nibali was even businesslike with his own prime minister, imploring him not to get too ahead of himself in celebration.
"It's true that I received a text message from Matteo Renzi, who invited me to Chigi Palace to celebrate my victory," said the cautious Sicilian of the premier's official residence. "I replied that only after winning -- if I do so -- I'll be able to say that I'll be present."
Wednesday's 124.5-kilometer (77-mile) trek was the shortest stage in this year's Tour. It covered three hard Category 1 ascents from Saint-Gaudens and a final push up to Pla d'Adet ski station above the town of Saint-Lary-Soulan.
Majka, who also won Stage 14 in the Alps, again showed he's the best climber in this Tour and tightened his grip on the polka dot jersey, which is awarded to the race's King of the Mountains.
Giovanni Visconti got the action going on the last climb, but his solo breakaway with about nine kilometers (5-1/2 miles) left could not hold off Majka. Visconti, who is also Sicilian, was second, 29 seconds back, and Nibali was third, 46 seconds behind.
With a last Pyrenean day ahead Thursday, Majka could ensure that he takes the red-dot jersey home. His closest rival for it when the stage started was Spain's Joaquim Rodriguez, who swatted the air in frustration at Majka when the Pole broke away on the last climb.
Majka said he felt "comfort" in the last five kilometers in part because he'd been saving up energy a day earlier by riding easier. He finished in a bunch 24-1/2 minutes behind Australian teammate Michael Rogers, who won Stage 16.
By Wednesday, "I felt really, really good in the last climb," Majka said, after tapping his chest, thrusting his arms skyward and shouting in joy at the victory. "For me, when there are a lot of climbs, it's the best."
Stage 18's finale in the Pyrenees takes the pack on a 145.5-kilometer (90-mile) loop from Pau to Hautacam, featuring two ascents that are so hard that they defy cycling's ranking system -- one of them an uphill finish.
Then it's a flat stage heading northward Friday before an individual time-trial a day later, and then what's likely to be the largely ceremonial ride for the yellow jersey in Stage 21 on Sunday to the Champs-Elysees in Paris for the finish of this 101st Tour edition.
While well-positioned to be in yellow then, Nibali was still attacking Wednesday.
"I preferred to go and gain a few more seconds and to be even more serene, just in case something could happen," he said.
Sports on 07/24/2014