Two days after losing over a minute to Alberto Contador and others, Christopher Froome strengthened his grasp on the yellow jersey at the 2013 Tour de France, crossing the finish line first atop the Stage 15 summit at Mont Ventoux. Froome gained back the time he lost and then some, with help from some inspired riding by teammate Richie Porte.
The 242.5 km stage was the longest of the Tour, and was capped by a 21 km climb to the finish that is considered perhaps to most grueling climb of the Tour. Mikel Nieve and Nairo Quintana led for much of the brutal stretch up Mont Ventoux. The pair was roughly 30 seconds ahead of Froome, Contador and the peloton, when Froome made his move to the front of the stage off the back wheel of Porte. Contador was unable to respond.
Froome quickly passed a wavering Nieve and made his way into the lead with Quintana with 6.5 km to the finish. The two riders communicated and worked together to expand their lead over all other riders as they made their way toward the finish. With 1.2 km to go, Froome raced away from Quintana, with no response from the Colombian.
With just a week to go until the end of the Tour in Paris, other riders will have a tough time making up Froome's time gap on the field. He finished 29 seconds ahead of Quintana, and one minute 43 seconds ahead of Contador.
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