Froome's rivals left feeling breathless

La Pierre-Saint Martin - Chris Froome's Tour de France rivals admitted on Tuesday he was too strong as the Briton decimated the field in another stunning victory.

The 30-year-old Sky leader accelerated away up to the 10th stage summit finish at La Pierre-Saint Martin at the end of a 15km climb to break the resistance of almost all his rivals.

Nairo Quintana had the most success at limiting the damage but arrived third on the stage at 1:04 from Froome and is now third overall at 3:09.

"It was clear that we wanted a quick race and the whole team worked hard for that," said the 25-year-old Colombian.

"I thought I was going to climb well and that was the case, but Froome was stronger than me.

"Of course I would have preferred to win but (Sky) were very strong.

"I'm in good shape physically and mentally. I'm calm, I feel good but it's just that my rival was stronger than me today."

The 2014 Giro d'Italia champion said his team would attack over the coming days but for the moment Froome seems out of reach.

"For now we're going to fight for second place, but we'll also fight for the yellow jersey in the remaining stages, and there are a lot."

American Tejay Van Garderen is second at 2:52 and well within Quintana's reach after coming 10th on Tuesday at 2:30.

Van Garderen, 26, has made no secret that his aim is to finish on the podium rather than challenge Froome and he was satisfied with his performance on the brutal 15km climb to the line.

"It was extremely difficult, those first 10km were really steep and Sky definitely put on quite the performance," the BMC leader said.

"I tried to do my best to stay with them but when it became too much I just tried to stay in my rhythm and just focus on getting to the top.

"I don't think today was my best day but it wasn't all bad, I'm still keeping a good GC position.

"The first mountain day's always tricky, we've done almost two weeks without climbing any real mountains so it can be a shock to the system, especially after a rest day.

"But I feel like I should feel better from here so I'm definitely still happy with where we're sitting."

That was not the case for Alberto Contador, Tour winner in 2007 and 2009, and reigning champion Vincenzo Nibali.

Contador finished 11th at 2:52 and is now sixth overall at 4:04 - one place and one second behind Froome's domestique Geraint Thomas.

"I knew it would be an important day for me, I didn't want to lose a lot of time. I don't know why but I couldn't breathe," said the 32-year-old Tinkoff-Saxo leader.

"I felt terrible, really bad. I couldn't breathe, in fact I still can't," the Spaniard added when speaking to the media just after the finish.

"When you can't breathe, it's impossible. I tried to increase my pace by getting out of the saddle but it felt even slower, whereas with my style it should be the opposite."

The biggest loser, though, was Nibali, who came home 21st at 4:25 and is now 10th overall at 6:57.

"It was difficult, I couldn't follow the pace, I didn't have any puff and I couldn't pedal as I didn't have any strength," said the 30-year-old Italian.

"I couldn't even follow my (Astana) team-mates, it was a really difficult day for me.

"At first I tried to resist and see how things went but then I had to give up after a few kilometres (of the final climb) and just ride a slower pace up the mountain."

Standings from the 10th stage of Tour de France a 167km ride from Tarbes to Col de la Pierre Saint-Martin on Tuesday:

1. Chris Froome (GBR/SKY) 4hr 22min 07sec
2. Richie Porte (AUS/SKY) at 0:59sec.
3. Nairo Quintana (COL/MOV) 1min 04sec
4. Robert Gesink (NED/LNL) 1:33.
5. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 2:01.
6. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) 2:01.
7. Adam Yates (GBR/ORI) 2:04.
8. Pierre Rolland (FRA/EUC) 2:04.
9. Tony Gallopin (FRA/LOT) 2:22.
10. Tejay Van Garderen (USA/BMC) 2:30.
11. Alberto Contador (ESP/TIN) 2:51.
12. Rafael Valls (ESP/LAM) 3:09.
13. Jakob Diemer Fuglsang (DEN/AST) 3:09.
14. Serge Pauwels (BEL/MTN) 3:19.
15. Warren Barguil (FRA/GIA) 3:19.
16. Samuel Sanchez (ESP/BMC) 4:00.
17. Bauke Mollema (NED/TRE) 4:09.
18. Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA/MTN) 4:09.
19. Eduardo Sepulveda (ARG/BSE) 4:16.
20. Tanel Kangert (EST/AST) 4:25.
21. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/AST) 4:25.
22. Laurens ten Dam (NED/LNL) 4:25.
23. Mathias Frank (SUI/IAM) 4:44.
24. Louis Meintjies (RSA/MTN) 5:38.
25. Jean Christophe Peraud (FRA/ALM) 5:38.
26. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/EUC) 5:38.
27. Jerome Coppel (FRA/IAM) 5:46.
28. Rigoberto Uran (COL/ETI) 5:54.
29. Michael Rogers (AUS/TIN) 5:57.
30. Gorka Izagirre (ESP/MOV) 5:57.
31. Alexis Vuillermoz (FRA/ALM) 6:04.
32. Steven Kruijswijk (NED/LNL) 6:04.
33. Wout Poels (NED/SKY) 6:04.
34. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) 6:07.
35. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP/TRE) 6:15.
36. Emanuel Buchmann (GER/BOA) 6:28.
37. Dominik Nerz (GER/BOA) 6:28.
38. Bartosz Huzarski (POL/BOA) 6:47.
39. Brice Feillu (FRA/BSE) 8:00.
40. Jarlinson Pantano (COL/IAM) 8:00.
41. Cyril Gautier (FRA/EUC) 8:11.
42. Geoffrey Soupe (FRA/COF) 8:20.
43. Jan Bakelants (BEL/ALM) 8:50.
44. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 8:50.
45. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/CAN) 8:50.
46. Giampaolo Caruso (ITA/KAT) 8:50.
47. Mickal Cherel (FRA/ALM) 9:15.
48. Rafal Majka (POL/TIN) 9:52.
49. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ) 10:03.
50. Steve Morabito (SUI/FDJ) 10:03.
51. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/TIN) 10:03.
52. Damiano Caruso (ITA/BMC) 10:03.
53. Marcel Wyss (SUI/IAM) 10:03.
54. Lars Ytting Bak (DEN/LOT) 10:03.
55. Lieuwe Westra (NED/AST) 11:02.
56. Jos Herrada (ESP/MOV) 11:33.
57. Daniel Martin (IRL/CAN) 11:34.
58. Andrew Talansky (USA/CAN) 11:34.
59. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA/BSE) 11:49.
60. Romain Sicard (FRA/EUC) 12:12.
61. Merhawi Kudus (ERI/MTN) 12:12.
62. Anthony Delaplace (FRA/BSE) 12:37.
63. Bob Jungels (LUX/TRE) 12:53.
64. Alberto Losada (ESP/KAT) 12:53.
65. Jonathan Castroviejo (ESP/MOV) 13:41.
66. Alexandre Geniez (FRA/FDJ) 13:41.
67. Perrig Quemeneur (FRA/EUC) 13:41.
68. Markel Irizar (ESP/TRE) 13:41.
69. Winner Anacona (COL/MOV) 13:41.
70. Georg Preidler (AUT/GIA) 13:41.
71. Wilco Kelderman (NED/LNL) 13:41.
72. Pierre-Luc Perichon (FRA/BSE) 13:41.
73. Andriy Grivko (UKR/AST) 13:41.
74. Thomas De Gendt (BEL/LOT) 13:41.
75. Nicolas Roche (IRL/SKY) 13:51.
76. Nicolas Edet (FRA/COF) 14:09.
77. Simon Geschke (GER/GIA) 14:28.
78. Tiago Machado (POR/KAT) 14:47.
79. Jeremy Roy (FRA/FDJ) 15:34.
80. Paul Voss (GER/BOA) 15:36.
81. Leopold Knig (CZE/SKY) 15:45.
82. Michele Scarponi (ITA/AST) 16:09.
83. Daniel Navarro (ESP/COF) 16:40.
84. Luis ngel Mate (ESP/COF) 16:40.
85. Stijn Devolder (BEL/TRE) 16:40.
86. Ruben Plaza (ESP/LAM) 16:40.
87. Kristijan Durasek (CRO/LAM) 16:40.
88. Nelson Oliveira (POR/LAM) 16:40.
89. Peter Kennaugh (IDM/SKY) 16:40.
90. Jose Mendes (POR/BOA) 16:40.
91. Michael Schr (SWI/BMC) 16:40.
92. Armindo Fonseca (FRA/BSE) 16:40.
93. Bram Tankink (NED/LNL) 16:40.
94. Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA/MTN) 16:40.
95. Kristjan Koren (SLO/CAN) 16:40.
96. Roy Curvers (NED/GIA) 16:40.
97. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/IAM) 16:40.
98. Jan Barta (CZE/BOA) 16:40.
99. Stephen Cummings (GBR/MTN) 16:40.
100. Rui Costa (POR/LAM) 16:40.
101. Koen de Kort (NED/GIA) 16:40.
102. Gregory Rast (SUI/TRE) 16:40.
103. Frdric Brun (FRA/BSE) 16:40.
104. Dmitriy Gruzdev (KAZ/AST) 16:40.
105. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/MTN) 16:40.
106. Sep Vanmarcke (BEL/LNL) 18:10.
107. Paul Martens (GER/LNL) 18:10.
108. Michael Andersen (DEN/TIN) 18:10.
109. Danilo Wyss (SUI/BMC) 18:10.
110. Florian Vachon (FRA/BSE) 18:10.
111. Albert Timmer (NED/GIA) 18:10.
112. Matteo Tosatto (ITA/TIN) 18:10.
113. Daniele Bennati (ITA/TIN) 18:10.
114. Julian Arredondo (COL/TRE) 19:53.
115. Angelo Tulik (FRA/EUC) 20:43.
116. Yohann Gene (FRA/EUC) 20:43.
117. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/BMC) 20:43.
118. Jens Debusschere (BEL/LOT) 20:43.
119. Simon Yates (GBR/ORI) 21:09.
120. Stef Clement (NED/IAM) 21:34.
121. Matthias Brandle (AUT/IAM) 21:34.
122. Nathan Haas (AUS/CAN) 21:34.
123. Imanol Erviti (ESP/MOV) 21:34.
124. Tyler Farrar (USA/MTN) 21:34.
125. Martin Elmiger (SUI/IAM) 21:34.
126. Adriano Malori (ITA/MOV) 21:34.
127. Ramon Sinkeldam (NED/GIA) 21:34.
128. Reto Hollenstein (SUI/IAM) 21:34.
129. Florian Snchal (FRA/COF) 21:34.
130. Pieter Weening (NED/ORI) 21:34.
131. Julien Vermote (BEL/ETI) 21:34.
132. Daniel Teklehaymanot (ERI/MTN) 21:34.
133. Michal Golas (POL/ETI) 21:34.
134. Alex Dowsett (GBR/MOV) 21:34.
135. Jos van Emden (NED/LNL) 21:34.
136. Luke Durbridge (AUS/ORI) 21:34.
137. Christophe Riblon (FRA/ALM) 21:34.
138. Arnaud Gerard (FRA/BSE) 21:34.
139. Rohan Dennis (AUS/BMC) 21:57.
140. John Degenkolb (GER/GIA) 22:19.
141. Manuel Quinziato (ITA/BMC) 22:22.
142. Filippo Pozzato (ITA/LAM) 22:22.
143. Matthieu Ladagnous (FRA/FDJ) 22:22.
144. Marcel Sieberg (GER/LOT) 22:22.
145. Andr Greipel (GER/LOT) 22:22.
146. Matteo Bono (ITA/LAM) 22:22.
147. Jos Serpa Perez (COL/LAM) 22:22.
148. Bryan Naulleau (FRA/EUC) 22:22.
149. Daniel Oss (ITA/BMC) 22:22.
150. Rein Taaramae (EST/AST) 22:22.
151. Tim Wellens (BEL/LOT) 22:22.
152. Benot Vaugrenard (FRA/FDJ) 22:22.
153. Julien Simon (FRA/COF) 22:22.
154. Adam Hansen (AUS/LOT) 22:22.
155. Jacopo Guarnieri (ITA/KAT) 22:29.
156. Damien Gaudin (FRA/ALM) 22:29.
157. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/KAT) 22:31.
158. Peter Sagan (SVK/TIN) 22:39.
159. Michal Kwiatkowski (POL/ETI) 23:21.
160. Zdenek Stybar (CZE/ETI) 23:21.
161. Tylan van Baarle (NED/CAN) 23:21.
162. Sbastian Langeveld (NED/CAN) 23:21.
163. Laurent Didier (LUX/TRE) 23:21.
164. Ben Gastauer (LUX/ALM) 23:21.
165. Sam Bennett (IRL/BOA) 23:21.
166. Marco Haller (AUT/KAT) 23:21.
167. Christophe Laporte (FRA/COF) 23:21.
168. Kenneth Vanbilsen (BEL/COF) 23:21.
169. Luke Rowe (GBR/SKY) 23:21.
170. Bryan Coquard (FRA/EUC) 23:21.
171. Mark Cavendish (GBR/ETI) 23:21.
172. Matteo Trentin (ITA/ETI) 23:21.
173. Ian Stannard (ENG/SKY) 23:21.
174. Mark Renshaw (AUS/ETI) 23:21.
175. Zakkari Dempster (AUS/BOA) 23:21.
176. Ramunas Navardauskas (LTU/CAN) 23:21.
177. Svein Tuft (CAN/ORI) 23:21.
178. Tom Leezer (NED/LNL) 23:21.
179. Johan Van Summeren (BEL/ALM) 23:21.
180. Davide Cimolai (ITA/LAM) 23:35.
181. Arnaud Demare (FRA/FDJ) 26:27.
182. Michael Matthews (AUS/ORI) 26:27.
183. Sebastien Chavanel (FRA/FDJ) 29:15.