PARIS, July 14 (Xinhua) -- British cyclist Chris Froome of Team Sky won the first high-mountain stage of Tour de France in four hours, 22 minutes and seven seconds on Tuesday.
Froome and his Sky teammates dominated the race. With six kilometers to go, on some of the steepest sections, Froome tore away alone, out of the saddle as he accelerated. The last rider to stay with him, 2013 runner-up Nairo Quintana, couldn't respond and finished third behind Froome and his teammate Richie Porte of Australia.
Froome, who was already wearing the race leader's yellow jersey after nine stages, is now nearly three minutes in front.
"Froome rode away and showed his authority," said 2007 and 2009 winner Alberto Contador said. "I couldn't breathe. I couldn't get my legs to work. It really was a bad day."