Real life: Thomas Voeckler took the stage ahead of Chris Anker Sørensen and Gorka Izaguirre.

In spite of being well placed in the battle for the mountain jersey Weening decide not to try and get any points at the top of Col d’Aubisque.

With three km to the top of Tourmalet the original break as joined by De Gendt, Henao, Nieve and Danielson.

At the top of Col d’Aspin the break has build a gap of 13 minutes. Still Peyresourde ahead, but it looks like a stage win to the break.

Ten Dam is the only of the original breakers that can keep up with the four newcomers on the first part of Peyresourde. He even feels comfortable enough to attack 3 km from the top.

At the same time in the peloton Nibali has attacked forcing Froome and Contador to try and follow him.

But the Italian is having one of his best days yet it seems and the last 5 km looks to be a real fireworks.
Status with three km to the top for Nibali: 37 seconds to Contador, Froome, Valverde and Rodríguez and a further 24 seconds to the rest of the favourites. De Gendt, Henao and Ten Dam looks to take the stage top 3.
2 km to the top for the yellow jersey. Purito, Froome and Contador work nicely together but Nibali has still expanded his lead to over a minute.

Contador & Co. knows they have to catch Nibali before the top as he is the best descender of them all.
Nibali starts the descent 22 seconds ahead of Contador and 44 seconds ahead of Froome, Rodríguez, Valverde, Schleck, Sánchez and Wiggins.

Meanwhile the front trio enter the last 2 kms. De Gendt in front opening the sprint early on.

200 m to go. Ten Dam is coming fast from behind while Henao doesn’t seem to have anything to offer.

Belgian victory!


Rodríguez have left his group behind and is with 8 km to go 27 seconds ahead of all the other favourites except for Contador and Nibali, who are respectively 18 and 42 seconds ahead.
On the last bit of the stage Purito even manages to pass Contador.

Terpstra, Bos and Nizzolo missed the time limit today

Real life: Valverde took the stage win ahead of Froome and Wiggins.

10 of the usual breakaway riders get away and has a five minutes gap with 100 km to go.

Contador crashes in the middle of the peloton, but thankfully takes no one with him. The Spaniard quickly gets back in the pack, but the question is how bad he is hurt.

Sky Froome and Saxo – Tinkoff look determined to shake Nibali today. Surprisingly they only just need to go to the front before Jurgen Van den Broeck shells of the back.

Across the top of Port de Balès the breakaway holds a lead of 2’35’’.

Sánchez is the first of the GC-riders to start moving with 13 km to the finish line.

Hesjedal, Nibali and Purito follows. Once again Contador and Froome aren’t there in what could be a decisive moment.
Fortunately for the things slow down a bit when the first group of breakaway riders are caught. At this point Pozzovivo is alone in front almost two minutes ahead of the favourites.

9 km left. Once again Nibali is out in front, Contador in between and Froome enjoying Brajkovic’s hard work in front of the main group.

Closing in on the second-last summit Froome realizes that he is losing terrain fast to Contador and Nibali.

Contador attacks right in the top. Finally a try to actually gain some time on the Italian! A descent might not be the smartest time to do it though…

With 1,5 km to the line Pozzovivo is caught by Contador.
Nibali is 25 seconds behind the two and Froome distanced a further 41 seconds.

Finally someone manage to beat Nibali in a way that has just a little significance!

Meanwhile it looks like Froome is starting to really lose terrain in the battle…

10 riders have been thrown out of the race including Farrar, Phinney and Swift.