Tour de France
The pack of riders cycles on its way during the 170-km ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Gerardmer and Mulhouse July 13, 2014. REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen (FRANCE - Tags: SPORT CYCLING) Reuters

Sunday's race gave riders another grueling test with a series of tough climbs. Monday's race will be even more excruciating as they take on a 163-kilometer mountainous stage with a summit finish waiting in its end.

Germany's Tony Martin reigned supreme in the medium-mountain Stage 9 from Gérardmer to Mulhouse. Though it featured six category climbs, the last 43km of the 170-km ride featured downhill and flat roads, allowing the sprinters to take center stage once again.

Martin, considered as one of the best sprinters in the history of Tour de France, captured his third career individual stage victory in the prestigious pedal race.

"It's incredible," Martin said in the presser. "And it was a great feeling to have a lot of German fans around me. It was amazing to win a road race and not just a time trial and to have time to celebrate it in the last 10 minutes."

Meanwhile, it was a triumphant day for France on Bastille Day with homegrown talent Tony Gallopin of UCI ProTeam Lotto-Belisol taking the yellow jersey from Vincenzo Nibali, who held the famous jersey for seven stages.

"Since the cobblestone stage I have been thinking about the yellow jersey but it was a dream." Gallopin told reporters during the post-stage press conference via the Guardian on Sunday "And dreams and reality are not the same. But now I am so happy."

Gallopin became only the second Frenchman in the decade to capture the yellow jersey on Bastille Day. Tommy Voeckler was the last rider to accomplish such feat.

Stage 10: Mulhouse - La Planche des Belles Filles

The Mullhouse to La Planche des Belles Filles stage will serve as the first big test for the general classification contenders to showcase their talent and earn minutes ahead of their competitors.

Former Tour de France champion Alberto Contador, Richi Porte and Nabali took the backseat in the final kilometers of Stage 9, but these bikers are expected to go all-out in this race that features a final climb that reaches grades of an amazing 20 percent gradient.

"The general classification contenders, meanwhile, bode their time and rested their bodies. For Vincenzo Nibali, Alberto Contador and Richie Porte today's 161.5km 10th stage from Mulhouse to La Planche des Belle Filles is really the race of truth," The Guardian reported.

Stage 10: Prediction

Contador will be the favorite to win this kind of race because of his resume as a powerful climber. Spain's Joaquim Rodriguez and Australia Richie Porte could also be in the mix down the end, while Alejandro Valverde would love to assume his role as a darkhorse.

Live Stream Information

NBCSN (US Viewers) and ITV4 (UK) starts TV coverage of Stage 10 at 7:00 a.m EST, while free live streaming is available on NBC Sports Extra (US), ITV4 (UK), and SBS Live Stream (Australia). Latest standings and news update are available on Tour de France 2014.

(Bike Radar/Youtube)
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