Tony Gallopin went into today's stage of the Tour de France with a secret hope of defending his yellow jersey but the Frenchman lost ground on the penultimate climb and dropped to fifth. His team leader Jurgen Van Den Broeck didn't fare much better and continued to lose time to his podium rivals.

On Bastille Day Tony Gallopin could wear the yellow jersey. It was one of the tougher stages in this Tour de France, with finish at La Planche des Belles Filles and seven climbs on the route. Jurgen Van den Broeck lost time on his GC opponents again. He finished as 17th at 1’16” of Nibali, who won the stage and is back in yellow. In GC Van den Broeck is eleventh at 4’18”.

With the yellow jersey in the team Lotto Belisol rode at the head of the peloton in the first part of the race. Astana took over for a while, then Lars Bak and Adam Hansen joined them to set the pace. Tony Gallopin was distanced from the peloton on the penultimate climb. Jurgen Van den Broeck was riding in the group of Nibali, was dropped for a moment but got back after the top.

"At La Planche des Belles Filles he had to let go. Nibali attacked and rode to the victory. In the final kilometer he caught early escapee Joaquim Rodríguez, who is the new leader in the mountain classification.
 
"It was my worst day on a bike," Gallopin said. "Four hours of suffering… Every climb was an ordeal. I really did everything I could but I paid for my efforts last week and yesterday. I'm sorry. Even though it was hard and I had no illusions, I was still hoping to keep it deep inside. It was beyond my strength, I gave it my all.

“I thought to enjoy the stage, but it was more than four hours of suffering. I gave it all. In the beginning of the stage I got dropped for a moment, but eventually I hung on until twenty kilometers from the finish. Then I got dropped for good.

"This stage was incredibly hard. I didn’t have any power left at the finish; it was a very long day.

"It was definitely a special moment. I got lots of encouragements from the people along the road. It was really nice how the team rode at the head of the bunch and what an effort the guys did. For example André Greipel, with his jersey of German champion and his victories. I want to thank each of them.”
 
“Unfortunately I lost time again, 1’16” on Nibali," Van Den Broeck said. "He’s of another level, nobody seems to be able to follow him. I lost less time on the others today than two days ago. I also felt better.

"On the penultimate climb I was dropped for a moment, but after the top I could join the group again. Before the start of the last climb I moved up to the front. I had hoped for a better result.

"Now we have a rest day and then two stages before we go into the Alps. Hopefully there will be progress by then. It’s not over yet. There are still five mountain stages to come and one time trial.”