Greig Leach

As the main contenders churned up the fabled Col du Tourmalet, it appears that Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) was having a reversal of his fortunes in the Tour. The defending winner of the Tour lost minutes to the in form Chris Froome (Astana) but today he put his team on the front of the Yellow Jersey group. With the last of his teammates unable to continue the pace, Nibali pushed on with Gerraint Thomas and Froome right on his wheel. Froome had put in a huge effort to gain time on all of his rivals and he was in no mood to surrender even a second on the following day.