Daniel Martin wins Tour de France stage nine as Chris Froome fights to retain lead

Daniel Martin (Garmin-Sharp) escaped from the lead group on the final Hourquette d'Ancizan climb and out-sprinted companion Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) to win Tour de France stage nine today in Bagnères-de-Bigorre.

Chris Froome (Sky) safely maintained his spot in the group despite multiple attacks, placed 20 seconds back and kept his leader's yellow jersey

Isolated

Froome was left without team-mates on the first climb of day, the Col Portet-d'Aspet. Saxo Bank and other teams drove the pace high and split the group. Only Froome held on.

Pete Kennaugh (Sky) fell off the left side of the road on the descent. He climbed up, but had to return to get his bike in order to continue. His left side was scraped and his jersey ripped due to the fall.

Over the next climb, the Col de Menté and the final three - Peyresourde, Louron-Azet, Hourquette d'Ancizan - Saxo Bank and Movistar continued to lead.

Movistar had six riders in the lead group at one point, including danger-men Alejandro Valverde and best young rider, Nairo Quintana.

Quintana attacked multiple times on the final Hourquette d'Ancizan climb. Froome marked him, but let Daniel Martin (Garmin-Sharp) and Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) ride free with 34.8 kilometres remaining.

Porte suffers

Porte nearly recovered, moving to within one minute to Froome's group on the Val Louron-Azet, but cracked. The Aussie was Sky's 'plan B' 24 hours ago, but after finishing 17-59 minutes back, plans have changed.

Froome, at least, maintained his yellow jersey heading into the race's first rest day. The Tour resumes on Tuesday in Saint-Gildas-des-Bois.

Results
Tour de France 2013, stage nine: Saint-Girons to Bagnères-de-Bigorre, 168.5km
1. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Sharp in 4-43-03

2. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana at same time

3. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 20 secs

4. Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha

5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha

6. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing

7. Wouter Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM

8. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin

9. Daniel Navarro (Spa) Cofids

10. Maxime Monfort (Bel) RadioShack-Leopard at same time

Other

14. Chris Froome (GBr) Sky at same time

101. Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Sky at 22-43

102. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky at 22-43

139. Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky at 26-20

141. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 26-20

163. David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Sharp at 26-20

Outside time limit: Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Sky

Overall classification after stage nine
1. Chris Froome (GBr) Sky in 36-59-18

2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar at 1-25

3. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin at 1-44

4. Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Belkin 1-50

5. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Saxo-Tinkoff at 1-51

6. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo-Tinkoff at 1-51

7. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar at 2-02

8. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Sharp at 2-28

9. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha at 2-31

10. Rui Costa (Por) Movistar at 2-45

Other

15. Andy Schleck (Lux) RadioShack-Leopard at 4-00

16. Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing at 4-36

33. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky at 18-30

41. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp at 26-08

51. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing at 35-01

Richie Porte tries to chase back up to team-mate Froome

Movistar and Saxo-Tinkoff put Froome under pressure

Chris Froome fought hard to retain the yellow jersey

Daniel Martin and Jakob Fuglsang's attack

Daniel Martin wins the stage from Jakob Fuglsang

Related links

Tour de France stage nine photo gallery

Tour de France 2013: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

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