Welsh cyclist Geraint Thomas claimed the stage win and the race leader's yellow jersey on the Tour de France with a powerful ride up the final climb of a gruelling 108km 11th stage.
Geraint Thomas Photo: Photosport
Team Sky's Thomas, who won the Criterium du Dauphine last month, attacked near the end of the stage.
The 2017 Giro champion Tom Dumoulin took second place, 20 seconds behind Thomas and just ahead of his Team Sky colleague and defending champion Chris Froome.
Thomas has an overall one minute 25 second lead over Froome with Dumoulin third.
Among the race's other top contenders, France's Romain Bardet, Italian Vincenzo Nibali and Colombian Nairo Quintana crossed the line 59 seconds behind Thomas.
The Welshman attacked from the group of favourites with nine kilometres left of the 17.6km ascent at an average gradient of 5.8 percent to La Rosiere, and caught Dumoulin, who had attacked earlier.
The Dutchman could not sustain the pace of Thomas, who also caught and then left in his wake the Spaniard Mikel Nieve, the last survivor of the day's breakaway.
"I just felt good today, I followed my instincts," said Thomas.
Several top contenders sustained heavy losses. Spain's Alejandro Valverde, who was on the attack in the final climb, finished 3:30 off the pace, and Britain's Adam Yates crossed the line 4:42 behind.
Last year's runner-up Rigoberto Uran finished 26:07 down, killing off any hopes he may have had of a podium finish.
Patrick Bevin was the best New Zealander today finishing 75th, 22 minutes behind Thomas, while Dion Smith is the best placed Kiwi overall in 112th place, an hour 18 behind Thomas.
-Reuters/RNZ
