MULHOUSE, France (AP) — Frenchman Tony Gallopin defends the yellow jersey on the 10th stage of the Tour de France with a testing day of climbing ahead on Bastille Day — France’s national day.
The 161.5-kilometer (100-mile) trek from Mulhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles features four steep Category 1 climbs and is the toughest stage so far.
Gallopin will be hard pushed to keep the jersey and faces still competition from Italian Vincenzo Nibali — who starts the stage 1 minute, 34 seconds behind in second — and from two-time champion Alberto Contador, who is 4:08 back in ninth.
The last section of the final ascent up to Belles Filles features a punishing 20 percent gradient that could shake up the pack and give a clearer indication of this year’s genuine contenders.
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