Tony Gallopin dropped to 9th in the overall standings after stage 14 but feels confident that he will be able to take a surprise top 10 in the Tour de France.

"It was a climb for me," he told L'Equipe. "I wanted to follow the best from the bottom. We ended up with five or six, with Froome, van Garderen and Contador. There was no one behind. Then it went too fast for me. I took my own rhythm and a small group caught me, with Gesink, Mollema and Pierre (Rolland). I'm happy. I am in my place in this Tour: between 5th and 10th among the favorites.

"The differences begin to be made in the top 10. We're thirteen or fourteen that fight for my place. It will come down to four or five riders. I have a small lead for the top 10 spot but the Alps are coming. If the form is like now, it is possible. Today I tried to follow the best for three kilometers but those that I have to follow are Gesink Mollema and Pierre (Rolland).

"On a day like today, I would really have liked to go in the break. I was among the 30-40 first riders but we saw that when Barguil and Rolland tried to attack, there was always a team that wanted to defend its position overall. It was complicated. For Sky, I'm not a threat, for sure."