Dumoulin wins Tour de France ninth stage, Froome keeps yellow

Yahoo – AFP, 10 July 2016

Netherlands' Tom Dumoulin celebrates as he crosses the finish line of the
 184,5 km ninth stage of the 103rd edition of the Tour de France cycling race
on July 10, 2016 between Vielha Val d'Aran and Andorre Arcalis (AFP
Photo/Lionel Bonaventure)

Arcalis (Andorra) (AFP) - Dutchman Tom Dumoulin braved Dantesque conditions in Andorra to win the ninth stage of the Tour de France on Sunday after a solo attack up the final climb.

Defending champion Chris Froome crossed the line more than six minutes later alongside his main rivals to keep his grip on the race leader's yellow jersey.

Portugal's Rui Costa was second at 38 seconds with Rafal Majka of Poland third at the end of the 184.5km Pyrenean stage that started in Spain, where temperatures reached 41 Celsius before the weather changed abruptly into driving rain and hail in Andorra.

But the Tour lost two-time former champion Alberto Contador who pulled out just over 80km into the stage as he succumbed to injury and illness.

Contador had injured his entire right side after crashing on the first two stages while he also had a virus on Sunday morning.

Briton Adam Yates, Nairo Quintana of Colombia and Australian Richie Porte crossed the line with Froome, suggesting they may prove to be his main rivals this year.