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After a long drive south and a well-deserved rest day in Annecy, the Tour resumes with its first foray into the Alps, a 158.5 km stage with five categorized climbs. It was a scene that had to deliver its share of drama – and it met those expectations.
The tone of the race was aggressive from the start with a large group of escapees who were getting away early – a mix of seasoned activists like Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie), opportunists at the looking for sprint points (Peter Sagan) and honors. As the challenging course began to take its toll, the group was gradually reduced to an elite handful of players including Julian Alaphilippe and Phillip Gilbert (Quickstep Floors), Greg Van Avermaet (Racing BMC), Robert Gesink (Lotto NL- Jumbo) and Rein Taaramae. (Cofidis).
Alaphilippe clearly had a good day, making a KOM point play at the top of the Glières Plateau ascent and going solo on the gravel area after the summit. Meanwhile in the peloton behind, Froome was briefly dropped following a mechanic, returning to the peloton without incident.
With the front of the race together again, Rein Taaramae attacked the Col de Romme, in front of a thundering hunting group that still presented a gutsy yellow jersey. Alaphilippe dug another breach, heading for Taaramae, then he pulled out of his wheel, claiming more KOM points (and securing the shirt at the end)
Alaphilippe descended like a demon, stretching its advantage by attacking the final climb of the day, the col de La Colombière (7.5km @ 8.5%). After the summit, the arrival of the scene was waiting in the valley below, and Alaphilippe held enough of a gap that he could savor an emotional victory. The other big winner of the day, Greg Van Avermaet, who takes the lead of the second group on the road, now takes a 2:22 lead on the GC against Geraint Thomas (Team Sky). day in the Alps.
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- Koen de Kort (Trek-Segafredo) prepares for the start of the stage.
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- Belgian National Champion Yves Lampaert establishes at the start of the stage.
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- Julian Alaphilippe signs some pre-stage autographs. It's fair to say that after the performance of his day, he won even more fans.
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- The leaders of three major rankings on the starting line at Annecy.
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- A couple of young army representatives Peter Sagan's fans on the roadside.
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- After claiming the KOM points on the Montee Plateau Gliéres, Julian Alaphilippe élance solo …
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- … while a prosecution group, led by Greg Van Avermaet, works to bring him back.
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- The squad, controlled by Team Sky, crosses the gravel section after the Montee plateau Gliéres.
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- Chris Froome (Team Sky) dropped momentarily after a mechanic. Here he continues, with Alexander Kristoff in his wake.
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- Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) and dust.
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- The Col de la Colombière presents brutally stiff hairpins.
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- Robert Gesink (NL-Jumbo Lotto) was an early presenter of the stage.
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- Julian Alaphilippe grinds his teeth at the top of the last categorized climb of the day.
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- Egan Bernal drives Chris Froome to the top of the Col de la Colombière.
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- Rigoberto Uran cracked the first stage in the Alps, finishing almost six minutes after Alaphilippe.
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- Peter Sagan and loyal lieutenant Daniel Oss head for the finish.
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- Michael Schar delivering the mail.
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- The back of the race is a ruthless place to be in the mountains.
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- I just have a drink, nothing else.
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- Rigoberto Uran begins the final descent, desperately trying to keep time. He currently sits almost four minutes behind Chris Froome on the virtual GC, but has promised to fight until Paris.
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- Søren Kragh Andersen lost the lead of the young driver clbadification, with Pierre Latour taking over.
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- Comrades on the road.
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- Julian Alaphilippus (Quick-Step Floors) was an impressive winner on stage 10.
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- The winner of the stage sneaks through a grove of media at the finish line.
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- Greg Van Avermaet made a brave run to stay in yellow – and indeed, extend his margin.
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- Egan Bernal's thousand-yard look at the finish line.
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- Simon Clarke is interviewed while he calms down after the race.
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- Sam Bewley and his bike showing the marks of another tough day at the Tour.
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- Julian Alaphilippe takes the honors of the stage and the pea jersey to start.
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