Greig Leach

Once Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) swung off the front, it was up to his team leader, Chris Froome (Team Sky) to do what he could to win the stage and hold the Maillot Jeune. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo) was ready for the attack he knew was coming from the African born Brit. The first attack, easily covered by the Spaniard, proved to put Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) into difficulty. The rest of the peloton did not fare much better against the aggressiveness the purer climbers. However, those that just kept pushing were able to catch the wheel of the wearers of the Yellow and Green jerseys.