"It's a very open race at this point but I'm very happy to have the lead going into the first rest day," Froome said. Dutch rider Tom Dumoulin won the ninth leg with a solo breakaway on the beyond-category finishing climb. "I feel that this is going to be the biggest battle of my career," said Froome, who won the Tour in 2013 and 2015. ARCALIS, Andorra (AP) " Through hail, heat and constant pressure from some of his main rivals, Chris Froome rode strong during the toughest stage in the Pyrenees of the Tour de France on Sunday. He was in 20th position at the end of Saturday's eighth stage, 3 minutes, 12 seconds behind Froome.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 10, 2016 10:41 UTC