Greig Leach

On the lower slopes of the final climb of the day, the Grand Ballon, it was becoming apparent that the Astana led peloton was dropping further behind the two groups up the road. Ahead of the larger group was the World Time Trial Champion, Tony Martin (OPQS) who had dropped his earlier companion, Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale), but this larger collection of cyclist was where the real drama of the stage was unfolding. On the eve of Bastille Day, the Frenchman, Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Belisol) had but enough distance between himself and the peloton to be in the Virtual Yellow Jersey on the road. If the stage where to end at this point, he would be the new race leader of the Tour. It would be a fine thing for France, winning a stage in their home Tour yesterday and having the most coveted prize in French sporting, on the back of one of their own on Quatorze Juillet.