2014 Tour de France: after Yellow Tony Gallopin grabs a first stage win

After taking the Yellow Jersey on 13th July and holding during Bastille Day, Tony Gallopin won today's stage through the Juras. His chance looked gone when he was caught by the leading chasing group at the bottom of the final descent. However, some hesitation in the group allowed him to jump away and just managed to stay clear by the line. This was Gallopin's first Tour stage win. Another exciting race today!  

Overall Nibali is still comfortably in Yellow, while Peter Sagan despite his probable disappointment in not getting a stage win, continues to extend his lead in the Green Jersey with 301 points to 164 for Bryan Coquard. 

Tomorrow is another lumpy stage from Bourg-en-Bresse to St Etienne before the two Alpine stages on Friday and Saturday.

Tour de France: drama – Contador out, Nibali seizes the race

Vincenzo Nibali stamped his authority on the 2014 Tour with an impressive stage victory on a very tough day that saw Alberto Contador crash out injuring his knee. This is Nibali's second stage victory in the Tour – see updated list of Tour stage wins – 1903-2014 here.

It is difficult to see anyone now challenging Nibali for the overall victory. Good to see Joaquin Rodriguez has recovered from his difficult start and now has the Mountains Jersey. There was another amazing performance from Tony Martin trying to help Michal Kwiatkowski to get a high overall placing, which ultimately proved to be unsuccessful. 

As expected Tony Gallopin lost Yellow but put up a brave fight. 

2014 Tour de France: fearsome crunch 10th Stage – France in Yellow

 161.5 kms Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles

The organisers of the Tour are celebrating Bastille Day in style with a fearsomely tough stage, especially as it is now the 10th day of hard racing. There are seven categorised climbs – four Cat 1s, two Cat 2s and a single Cat 3. The stage ends with the climb of La Planche des Belles Filles, which featured in the 2012 Tour when Chris Froome won stage and Bradley Wiggins took the Yellow Jersey and wore it all the way to Paris.

2012 Stage 7: Tomblaine to La Planche des Belles Filles

Today's route is much tougher than the 2012 stage to La Planche des Belles Filles, which had just two Category 3 climbs before the final ascent, which Sky made very tough with a relentless pace. They dropped everyone apart from Cadel Evans who held on to the end and finished second to Froome.  

Can Tony Gallopin hold on to Yellow? It will be a tough ask but being French on 14th July provides huge motivation! Whatever happens Gallopin will be determined to put up a great fight to hold on as long as possible. It will also depend on how much yesterday's efforts took out of him. 

I will be surprised if Nibali is not back in Yellow tonight. Whether he gets to the top of Les Belles Filles before Contador is another matter. It has been suggested that the real attacks will wait until the final climb but there may well be attacks on the penultimate climb – the shortish but steep Category 1 Col des Chevrères. From the top of Chevrères it is straight down and then onto the final ascent. 

This is a big day!   

2014 Tour de France: amazing win by Tony Martin – Tony Gallopin – Yellow

Great ride and fabulous solo win by Tony Martin today plus Frenchman Tony Gallopin takes Yellow from Vincenzo Nibali and will wear it on Bastille Day (14th July). It had been thought that today's stage might be quiet before tomorrow's tough mountain finish on La Planche des Belles Filles. Martin's ride will surely be added to the Tour's annals of famous solo rides. He also takes over the King of the Mountains Jersey. 

 

Overall Tony Gallopin now leads Vincenzo Nibali by 1:34 with Tiago Machado (2:40) and Pierre Rolland (4:07) also moving back into contention. Nibali and the Astana team obviously decided not to defend the Yellow Jersey being prepared to make a 'temporary loan' of it. However, the picture will surely change tomorrow with a tough, moutainous stage to come.