The last time La Planche des Belles Filles featured at the Tour de France, in 2012, the man who ended the stage in the yellow jersey kept it to Paris and the stage winner went on to finish second overall behind his team-mate.
But in the absence of Team Sky’s Bradley Wiggins and Froome, the stage was instead set for another big shake-up of the general classification.
Again, the first major drama was in the form of a crash – Contador’s bike slipping out from before him as he looked to drive the pressure on a rapid descent.
El Pistolero rode on with what later proved to be a broken leg, but bowed to the inevitable and climbed off shortly afterwards.
Nibali, meanwhile, having allowed the yellow jersey to change hands the previous day as Tony Gallopin’s part in the race-winning stage nine break gifted the French Lotto-Belisol man the jersey on Bastille Day.
Without the burden of the yellow jersey to defend, though, Nibali nevertheless punished his GC rivals on the first mountainous stage of the Tour.
Victory in the Vosges was no more than Nibali deserved as he crested the final, picturesque climb alone.
Gallopin’s efforts in the yellow jersey were clear to see as he buried himself to stay in contention.
But Nibali could not be denied, earning the affections of the Bastille Day crowds with victory number two of this year’s race.
