Frank Schleck and Haimar Zubeldia started to claw back some of the time they have already lost when they finished in the top 16 of today's big mountain stage of the Tour de France. The Luxembourgish champion was pleased with his performance and claims not to be missing much compared to the best.

It was a dramatic day in the 161.5-kilometer mountain stage, which launched Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) back into yellow and lost overall favorite Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) to a fractured tibia.

Trek Factory Racing’s Haimar Zubeldia and Fränk Schleck climbed convincingly and finished in 15th and 16th places on the punishing La Planche des Belles Filles summit finish. For the team the results were encouraging: Haimar Zubledia slotted into 20th overall (+8’01”) and Fränk Schleck climbed into 25th (+11’51”).

The climbers held center stage for the 10th day at the Tour de France while the grupettos formed early. Soon after the start, the rains fell again, making the narrow, twisty roads treacherous, and adding to the difficulty of the mountainous stage.

The expected breakaway shaped from the drop of the flag as Markel Irizar joined six others that sped ahead of the peloton. The break would reshape over the first two climbs and descents, and swell to a group of 13 to start the third climb of the day, before shaving down to nine riders by the top. 

Irizar’s ride in the breakaway ended on the day’s third ascent as he lost contact to the leaders.  It was a brave effort by the Spaniard, but with seven unforgiving climbs on the menu the stage was set for the mountain goats, not for legs more befitting the Classics.

On the descent off the day’s second climb the devastating news of Contador’s crash resonated through the Tour de France. Although he courageously continued, it was in vain, and he soon abandoned; the Tour lost another overall favorite.

Ahead the nine leaders held a steady lead of four and a half minutes, giving Michal Kwiatkowski (OPQS) the yellow jersey on the road, and forcing Astana to set a high pace behind. 

It was the final two ascents of the day – both steep brutes that came in quick succession - where everything exploded and the best climbers emerged as the sheer grades carved out its first GC mold.

Schleck and Zubeldia held strong to the front group containing the GC contenders over the toughest climb of the day, the Col des Chevrères, and were still in contention half way through the final summit.

“The second last climb was the hardest as we started it full gas, it was narrow and very steep, there were 18% grades half way and this made the selection," Zubeldia said. "I had some cramps at the beginning of the last climb but I tried to not push hard, and I was able to recover.”

“I had done the recon of this stage and I knew the second last climb, the Col des Chevrères, was very nasty," Schleck. "There is no rhythm, just pure power and anger to get up it. Then on the last climb you have to find your rhythm back and go up as fast as you can.”

It would be Nibali’s attack with three kilometers left that shattered what remained of the peloton, a little more than 20-strong.

There was still one last man standing from the breakaway, Joaquim Rodriguez of Team Katusha, but despite a gritty performance, he, too, was rolled over by Nibali, who ridiculed the steepness and zoomed by to take the win – and the maillot jaune.

Thibaut Pinot (FDJ.fr) would finish 15 seconds later for second, and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) another handful of seconds later in third.

Haimar and Fränk finished with a small group at one minute and eight seconds for 15th and 16th respectively.

For Trek Factory Racing it was a cohesive effort, from Markel represented in the first breakaway, to Fabian Cancellara and Jens Voigt setting the pace for Fränk and Haimar into the decisive penultimate climb, the team made a presence in the first true mountain test of the Tour de France.

“It gives me morale when I see Fabian take responsibility at the front to pull – gives me morale and makes me proud," Schleck said. " It really helped.

"I can say that I don’t miss too much, even after my crash in the Tour de Suisse and all that has happened to me, I should be very proud of today. I felt good.”

Tomorrow is the first rest day of the Tour de France, with 11 more stages remaining. The Alps and Pyrenees still lay ahead, plus a hilly 54-kilometer time trial on the penultimate day; although the GC sustained a big reshuffle today, there are certainly more changes on the horizon.

“I am happy with today, but I am glad it is over," Zubeldia said. "It was a day to survive - the roads were so slippery! I had good sensations today and hopefully this is promising for the rest of the tour. Tomorrow is the rest day, we will take the recovery and then continue to push hard.”