Tour De France 2013 Standings: Where Top Riders Stand Heading into Stage 10
To nobody's surprise, heavy favorite Christopher Froome of Sky Procycling sits atop the standings after nine stages of the 2013 Tour de France, while Daniel Martin of Garmin-Sharp won Stage 9 with a gutsy finish.
Froome earned the yellow jacket after Stage 8 and then held it for a second consecutive day with an impressive showing on Sunday as he added 30 seconds to his lead.
Here's a look at the top cyclists in the standings through nine stages:
| 1 | Christopher Froome | Sky Procycling | 36h 59' 18'' | |
| 2 | Alejandro Valverde | Movistar Team | 37h 00' 43'' | + 01' 25'' |
| 3 | Bauke Mollema | Belkin Pro Cycling | 37h 01' 02'' | + 01' 44'' |
| 4 | Laurens Ten Dam | Belkin Pro Cycling | 37h 01' 08'' | + 01' 50'' |
| 5 | Roman Kreuziger | Team Saxo-Tinkoff | 37h 01' 09'' | + 01' 51'' |
| 6 | Alberto Contador | Team Saxo-Tinkoff | 37h 01' 09'' | + 01' 51'' |
| 7 | Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas | Movistar Team | 37h 01' 20'' | + 02' 02'' |
| 8 | Daniel Martin | Garmin-Sharp | 37h 01' 46'' | + 02' 28'' |
| 9 | Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver | Katusha Team | 37h 01' 49'' | + 02' 31' |
| 10 | Rui Alberto Costa | Movistar Team | 37h 02' 03'' | + 02' 45'' |
For complete classifications, please visit the official website of the Tour de France.
Though Froome was expected to be a major player in this year's race, his phenomenal performance on Sunday came at a high cost.
As noted by Universal Sports, Froome called it, "one of the hardest days" he's ever had on his bike, as his teammates were unable to support him:
Froome's Sky Procycling teammate Richie Porte started out the day on Sunday in second place behind him, but by the end of the brutal mountainous stage he'd fallen all the way down to No. 33—18 minutes and 30 seconds behind.
Two-time winner Alberto Contador isn't far behind Froome, in sixth place, and unlike the current leader he has some help.
He and teammate Roman Kreuziger finished Stage 9 neck and neck and will look to team up again in Stage 10.
With a much-needed rest day on Monday, the competitors will attempt to recharge their batteries for Stage 10 on Tuesday—one of seven flat stages in the prestigious race.
Stage 10 begins at Saint-Gildas-des-Bois, which is located near the western coast of France.
The riders will trek through the lovely countryside of western France for 197 kilometers before ending the stage at Saint-Malo—a port city that sits on the English Channel.
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