Team Sky and Chris Froome have dealt a hammer blow to the 2013 Tour de France on stage 8 overnight, taking the top two places on the General Classification with Australian team-mate Richie Porte in second.
The day was staged as the first major battle between Alberto Contador and Chris Froome, but that battle never materialised, with Froome reaching the finish first, 51 seconds ahead of teammate Richie Porte.
Nairo Quintana of Movistar tried to animate the race, attacking on the Col de Pailheres and reaching the summit first, taking the Souvenir Henri Desrange for taking the highest summit of the race.
However, his poor descending meant by the last climb the Sky-led peloton were almost upon him by the bottom of the last climb, mainly thanks to the work of Vasil Kiryienka and Peter Kennaugh.
As Richie Porte took up the pace-making, it became evident that the other contenders for overall victory were all struggling.
Cadel Evans, Andy Schleck, Joaquim Rodriquez, Alberto Contador and finally Alejandro Valverde were all dropped from the front group.
Chris Froome took up the pace, and the Movistar duo of Quintana and Valverde were the only ones to seriously mount a challenge to Froome and Porte, but Froome was long gone.
The Kenyan-born brit took out the stage win, with Porte coming in 51 seconds later.
Following them was Alejandro Valverde, one minute and eight seconds down, and then a Belkin duo of Bauke Mollema and Laurens Ten Dam.
Alberto Contador came in 1 minute 45 seconds down with teammate Roman Kreuziger, although it was obvious that El Pistolero was struggling to keep up with Kreuziger, who was taken the young rider’s classification at the Giro d’Italia in the past.
As a new civil war within teams opened up, another was called to a halt.
Cadel Evans lost over four minutes on the stage, quashing any overall hopes he had previously had.
Surely this means Tejay Van Garderen is the new team leader? No?
No. The young American who was touted for overall victory should Evans falter, had a horrendous day, losing twelve minutes.
The first day in the mountains has ripped apart the Tour de France; Froome has a stranglehold on the race, and only has to defend to Paris, like Sir Brad did last year to win the coveted maillot jaune.
Feel so privileged to be wearing the TDF yellow jersey after today's stage. It's an absolute honour but there's still a long way to Paris!
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 6, 2013
Fancy a wager on your favourite sport? Head on over to PlayUp for great odds and friendly customer service and pick a winner. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Australia's Jai Hindley has said he is "lost for words" after a shock stage victory at the Tour de France earned him the leader's…
Australia's Jai Hindley has said he is "lost for words" after a shock stage victory at the Tour de France earned him the leader's…
Tadej Pogacar has won a drama-packed Tour of Flanders, winning in a breakaway with Matieu van der Poel second, Mads Pedersen third and Wout…
Women are not allowed to compete in the Tour de France. However you choose to re-read that sentence, the fact remains: the most famous…
The jam-packed month-by-month quiz full of 2022 sports trivia!
Australian Grace Brown has won silver in the women's time trial, the first event at the world road cycling championships.
