Irishman Dan Martin wins 9th stage of Tour, Chris Froome defends race leader’s yellow jersey

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Christopher Froome of Britain, wearing the overall leader\'s yellow jersey, and Nairo Alexander Quintana of Colombia, wearing the best young rider\'s white jersey, in third position, speed down Val Louron-Azet pass during the ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 168.5 kilometers (105.3 miles) with start in Saint-Girons and finish in Bagneres-de-Bigorre, Pyrenees region, France, Sunday July 7 2013. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

BAGNERES-DE-BIGORRE, France – Irishman Dan Martin beat Denmark’s Jakob Fuglsang at the line to win Sunday’s ninth stage of the Tour de France and race favourite Chris Froome withstood early attacks to defend the yellow jersey on another hard day of climbing in the Pyrenees.

Garmin-Sharp rider Martin and Fuglsang were alone to contest the stage win, and Martin surged past with about 150 metres to go.

Froome had launched a devastating attack in the final climb to win Saturday’s eighth stage and move nearly two minutes ahead of two-time Tour champion Alberto Contador in the overall standings and four minutes clear of 2010 champion Andy Schleck.

Froome preserved a comfortable lead over his rivals after the 168.5-kilometre (105-mile) trek from Saint-Girons to Bagneres-de-Bigorre in southwestern France took the peloton over four category 1 climbs.

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