Welcome to live coverage of stage nine of the Tour de France - a 168.5km slog from Saint-Girons to Bagneres-de-Bigorre through the high mountains. It's the toughest test of the Tour so far, with a succession of five peaks (four of which are Cat.1) before a fast and furious 30km to the finish.
Tour de France
Stage 9 | Mountain | Men | 07.07.2013
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Updated 07/07/2013 at 14:18 GMT
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- Highlights
0km
Despite being isolated for the best part of 130km, Froome held on to retain his yellow jersey. His team-mate Porte drops out of the top ten. New second place is Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), who is 1:25 down. Bauke Mollema of Belkin is third at 1:50.
0km
Richie Porte is still riding and will lose around 18 minutes today. He's had a terrible day, it has to be said.
0km
Michal Kwiatkowski of OPQS led the main group over the line 20 seconds down for third place. Another commanding ride by the young Pole.
0km
Dan Martin (Garmin) punches the air - that's his first ever victory on the Tour de France. He won by two bike lengths over Jakob Fuglsang of Astana.
0km
Martin makes his move just ahead of a chicane in the road... and he holds off Fuglsang to take the win!
0.5km
They have come to a near standstill as they start the mind games...
1km
Under the banner for the leading duo, who attacked on the final climb of the day. Fuglsang is on the front, looking over his shoulder at Martin...
2km
Two kilometres to go and the gap is still 30 seconds. Astana and Garmin are both looking for their first stage win on the race...
5km
Yes, Dan Martin and Jakob Fuglsang will hold on to contest the victory it seems. The gap is just not coming down.
7km
Now Belkin are back on the front, with a line rider from Cofidis - looks like Navarro. But the gap is 32 seconds.
9km
The gap has gone back to 30 seconds as Kreuziger and Schleck pull slightly clear on the front of the chase.
10km
Sean Kelly reckons it's going to be difficult for Martin and Fuglsang to hold on... Back with the pack, it's Belkin who lead the chase, eager for a win for Mollema, Gesink or Ten Dam.
11km
It's down to just 25 seconds for the two leaders now, who are onto the level run-in after the downhill.
15km
Kwiatkowski is back with the main group, 37 seconds down on the two leaders. Martin, winner of Liege-Bastogne-Liege in the sprint, would be your bet if this came down to a two-way sprint at the finish.
17km
Michal Kwiatkowski of OPQS is not only back with the main group, he's now riding solo in pursuit of the two leaders. The young Pole is such a prospect. He's 30 seconds down on Martin and Fuglsang.
20km
Fuglsang and Martin are 42 seconds to the good over the yellow jersey group. After all the fireworks, it looks like today will end in a stalemate for the GC favourites.
22km
Rui Costa opens up a small gap and edges in front of a TV motorbike - but he's now back with the main group.
25km
The two leaders are up and over that short final uphill segment, now it's downhill all the way to the finish.
26km
Richie Porte is now riding with Ryder Hesjedal more than 10 minutes behind.
27km
We're onto a short uphill stretch before the final downhill. Martin and Fuglsang have 50 seconds over the peloton, with Poels in pursuit. Quintana still leads the main pack - but it loosk like Movistar have missed their golden opportunity.