The slow-burning fight for the Tour de France’s yellow jersey erupted in earnest on the slopes of a once-giant volcano on Friday, with race leader Primoz Roglic using the punishing slopes to grow his overall lead.
One of the big losers of the day was Egan Bernal, last year’s champion from Colombia who was unable to match Roglic’s pace on the arduous ascent of the Puy Mary. He tumbled from second to third in the overall standings.
Tadej Pogacar, the only rider able to stay with Roglic on the last climb, vaulted to second overall. He trails Roglic by 44 seconds.
Bernal fell back to 59 seconds behind Roglic, the winner of last year’s Spanish Vuelta who is increasingly looking the firm favorite to win in Paris in eight days.
The intense stage, one of this race’s hardest with seven ascents of note, was won by Colombian rider Daniel Martinez. He had been part of a breakaway of lower-order riders.
German rider Lennard Kmna was second on the climb up the Puy Mary.