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Tour de France: Froome demolishes rivals on first mountain test

July 15, 2015 09:36 IST

Race leader's yellow jersey, Team Sky rider Chris Froome of Britain celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 167-km (103.7 miles) 10th stage of the 102nd Tour de France cycling race from Tarbes to La Pierre-Saint -Martin, France, on Tuesday

Race leader's yellow jersey, Team Sky rider, Britain's Chris Froome, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 167-km (103.7 miles) 10th stage of the 102nd Tour de France cycling race from Tarbes to La Pierre-Saint -Martin, France, on Tuesday. Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

Overall leader Chris Froome put the hammer down on the Tour de France when the Briton humiliated his rivals in the first mountain test, winning the 10th stage in awe-inspiring fashion on Tuesday.

The 2013 champion produced a brutal acceleration with just over six kilometres left in the final ascent after his Team Sky lieutenants had prevented attacks by setting a devilish pace in the first part of 15.3-km climb.

When Froome attacked in his usual style -- head bent down, his legs spinning at a spine-chilling frequency -- American Tejay van Garderen, Spain's Alberto Contador and defending champion Vincenzo Nibali had already been dropped.

Only Colombian Nairo Quintana was still with Froome, who was also alongside teammate Richie Porte of Australia.

(Left-Right) Chris Froome of Great Britain and Team Sky, Tejay van Garderen of the United States and BMC Racing Team, Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas of Colombia and Movistar Team and Alberto Contador of Spain and Tinkoff-Saxo ride race during stage 10

(Left-Right) Great Britain and Team Sky' Chris Froome, United States and BMC Racing Team's Tejay van Garderen, Colombia and Movistar Team's Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas and Spain and Tinkoff-Saxo's Alberto Contador ride uphill during Stage 10. Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Movistar rider Quintana could not follow and he finished the 167-km trek from Tarbes in third place, 1:04 behind Froome, according to provisional timings.

Porte was second, 59 seconds off the pace.

"It's just one day on the Tour," Porte told reporters.

Overall, Froome leads Van Garderen (BMC Racing) by a massive 2:52, with Quintana in third, 3:09 off the pace.

Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) is sixth, 4:04 behind with Niballi (Astana) 10th, 6:57 adrift.

Movistar's high pace at the front trimmed down the peloton in the first part of the final ascent as Froome stayed safe in the small pack.

Among the first top names dropped were American Andrew Talansky, Ireland's Dan Martin and most notably France's Romain Bardet, sixth overall last year.

France'S Pierrick Fedrigo and Bretagne-Seche Environnement rides during Stage 10

France's Pierrick Fedrigo and Bretagne-Seche Environnement rides during Stage 10. Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

His AG2r-La Mondiale teammate Jean-Christophe Peraud also lost contact on a terrible Bastille Day for the French.

Nibali lost touch and ended up more than four minutes behind Froome.

Sky then took over at the front and Quintana's team mate Alejandro Valverde attacked twice but the pace set by Geraint Thomas was so high that the Spanish champion could not create a decent gap.

Contador was dropped with just over seven kilometres left. Sensing the Spaniard's weakness, Porte accelerated and the blow was fatal for Van Garderen.

Froome then started to spin his legs and he never looked back.

Source: REUTERS
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