As it happened: The break succeeds on Bastille Day, while GC riders attack each other on stage 10 of the Tour de France

Bonjour, and welcome to our Live coverage of stage 10 of the Tour de France!

In case you missed it, here's our full report for stage 9 of the Tour de France on Sunday, where Tim Merlier got the better of Jonathan Milan.

Our news writer James Moultrie is on the ground in France and has perfectly captured the tactical dynamics ahead of stage 10.

You can read his in-depth preview here:

Tour de France 2025 stage 10 preview - Pogačar vs Vingegaard battle set for 'big explosion' across eight climbs on Bastille Day

Yesterday Tadej Pogačar lost vital wingman and UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate João Almeida, with the Portuguese rider during stage 9 to Châteauroux.

That may lead to slightly more defensive riding from Pogačar.

"I was suffering today on the bike so I can't imagine how much João was suffering," Pogačar said yesterday.

"Now we'll have to reassess but I think we'll manage. We'll keep fighting with seven riders and try to win this Tour also for João."

Bastille Day typically evokes exceptional national pride among French fans and riders. In the start town of Ennezat the Tour is already buzzing with activity, and one stage win prospect is Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe, who has received a warm welcome in the French town this morning.

Yesterday's stage 9 was the second fastest in Tour de France history, averaging 50.013 kph for just under three and half hours of racing.

For a deep dive into why the Tour is getting so much faster, read our deep dive:

The Tour de France is getting faster, and here's why it won't be slowing down soon

Today’s stage, by contrast, is set to be a lot slower, due to the sheer number of climbs to be conquered. There are eight classified climbs crammed into the 165km route, with a total of 4,450m elevation gain.

This is therefore the first real climbing test of the Tour, and should see the GC really start to take shape.

We already have a clear hierarchy in the top ten, with Tadej Pogačar holding a sizable lead already and Remco Evenepoel, Kévin Vauquelin, Jonas Vingegaard and Matteo Jorgenson clustered closely together behind him, but today we could learn which of thee contenders are climbing the best on longer, bigger efforts.

The riders are on the move, travelling slowly through Ennezat as they approach the official start.

Despite the elevation gain of almost 4,500m, in isolation none of the hills taken on are especially hard — in fact, there isn’t a single category one climb on the menu, with all but one of the seven climbs ranked category two, and none lasting longer than 5.5km. It might be one of the hardest stages of the Tour, but it’s still quite a punchy one rather than test of pure climbing.

A couple of riders have pulled out of the race and aren’t present at the start - Georg Zimmermann, who might have been one of Intermarché - Wanty’s best options for a stage like this but went down heavily in a crash yesterday; and EF Education - EasyPost’s sprinting all rounder Marijn van den Berg.

And they're off!

OFFICIAL START

Victor Campenaerts is riding at the front - that could be a signal of intent that Visma intend to put UAE under pressure, as they have tried to throughout this race.

Krists Neilands was the first rider to get a gap, and he's since been joined by Valentin Madouas.

Neilands and Madouas have been joined by several other riders.

That's the short flat opening flat section done with - the riders are now on the first classified climb of the day, the 4.2km, 6.1% Côte de Loubeyrat.

The break has been brought back and the peloton is all together again.

Julian Alaphilippe is the latest to attack.

The riders are going slightly uphill, but the official start of the climb is still a few kilometres away.

Alaphilippe attacking on Bastille Day certainly felt like one of the most inevitable things happening at this Tour. He hasn’t shown the form here so far that he did at the Tour de Suisse, but has he been saving himself for today?

Alaphilippe starts the climb with a lead of 10 seconds on the peloton

Astana is leading the peloton on the climb, and closing in on Alaphilippe.

Actually, the blue jersey leading is not Astana, but Decathlon - Armirail is the rider, who has looked so strong this Tour.

Alaphilippe has been caught.

Lots of riders are already out the back of the peloton, including, inevitably, many sprinters.

At the front, a group of about 20 have a gap of 12 seconds.

This lead group is full of strong riders - Arensman, Simmons, Lenny Martinez, to name a few.

Riders are strewn all across the road, with the peloton behind this lage lead group much reduced, and many dropped in small groups behind it.

The headline names in the lead group are two Bens - Healy, and O’Connor.

Ben Healy is the highest placed rider on GC here at 3:55, while O’Connor is the man with the best Grand Tour credentials - thigh considered less of a danger now he’s over 15 minutes down.

From the lead group, Lenny Martinez and Bruno Armirail sprint for the KOM points at the top of the climb, with the latter coming out on top.

There are a lot of KOM points on offer today, so a chance for someone to take the polka-dot jersey and lay down a foundation in that competition.

KOM - COTE DE LOUBEYRAT

O'Connor is eager to push on with this move. He has a history of losing time in the first week, only to bounce back on a day like this by getting into the day's break and gaining time - could he do the same today?

The lead group only has about 10 seconds on the peloton for now.

150KM TO GO

More riders are trying to bridge up to the lead group, including Simon Yates.

Wellens has taken control of the peloton for UAE, prominent in his polka dot jersey.

Ben O'Connor pushing on at the front.

Another of yesterday’s crash victims has just pulled out of the race - Søren Wærenskjold, who started the race so well with third-place on the opening stage.

Simon Yates and others have joined the lead group, swelling it to about 30 riders.

Alaphilippe is also now in the lead group.

EF is the best represented team in the break, with Healy accompanied by Baudin, Powless and Sweeny. They’re in a very strong position, especially considering how well this stage could suit Healy.

The peloton are far from sitting up yet. The gap between it and the lead group is still only about 30 seconds.

140KM TO GO

To answer the question all those celebrating Bastille Day must be wondering - there are 8 French riders in the break. And some pretty strong ones, too: Valentin Paret-Peintre and Clément Champoussin and Aurélien Paret-Peintre are all former Grand Tour stage winners; Bruno Armirail is looking in great form; Lenny Martinez is a great talent who should love this kind of terrain; and Julian Alaphilippe looks up for it.

The peloton is now slowing down, and drifting out to close to a minute behind. Pablo Castrillo has jumped out of it and is trying to chase up to the lead group.

The riders are climbing, but it’s an uncategorised hill. The next KOM climb isn’t for about another 20km.

Unsurprisingly, given his sublime effort yesterday, Mathieu van der Poel is in the autobus along with the sprinters. He’s the only man in the GC top ten not in the peloton.

Iván Romeo has dropped back from the lead group to try to pace his Movistar teammate Castrillo into it.

And before you know it Castrillo and Romeo have made it.

As the best represented team in the group, EF will be keen to make this breakaway succeed.

There’s a split in the lead group, with about 8 riders clipping off the front.

The peloton is now over a minute behind. It does look like this will be the break of the day - but will it stay together?

130KM TO GO

The initial split in break was undone, but now two riders have gone clear - O'Connor and Sweeney.

They’ve been brought back, but now another rider is trying to attack out of it - Armirail.

The intermediate sprint is coming up in a few kilometres, but nobody in the lead group is up there in the points classification.

Anders Halland Johannessen rolls over the sprint line to take the points ahead of Armirail.

The gap's grown out to two minutes. This is the break of the day - the question now is, will it survive?

120KM TO GO

UAE Team Emirates - XRG have taken control of the proton and are setting a steady pace. The team are down a man after Almeida’s withdrawal yesterday, but Pavel Sivakov is back in the peloton having been dropped earlier.

Mechanical for Oscar Onley. It shouldn’t be a problem for the Scot while the peloton’s pace is so calm.

The riders are climbing up again, up the 4.8km, 7.3% Côte de La Baraque.

Tadej Pogačar, safely in the peloton along with all the other GC riders.

Sivakov is dropped out of the peloton. He looks to be suffering with something today, possibly illness. Having already lost Almeida, Pogačar is running (relatively) low on support.

With Simon Yates and Campanaerts up the road, Visma could be able to outnumber UAE later in the stage, and try putting the yellow jersey under serious pressure.

The break are 1km from the top of the climb. Armirail and Martinez went for it last time - who else fancies going for the polka-dot jersey?

Johannessen joined Martinez and Armirail in sprinting for the KOM points this time, but Martinez just about came past him to edge him into second. Armirail was 3rd.

KOM - COTE DE LA BARAQUE

The pace isn't slow in the peloton, and some riders were dropped out the back on the climb. Their deficit to the leaders is only 1:45.

110KM TO GO

The climbs come thick and fast here in the Massif Central. Another category two climb comes after the descent of this one, after which comes yet another.

Having claimed the points on the last climb, Martinez is now the virtual King of the Mountains. Here’s the current classification:

1 Martinez 12

2 Wellens 8

3 Pogačar 7

4 Woods 5

5 Healy 4

Up they go again, this time to climb the Côte de Charade (5.2km at 6.7%).

Attack from Ben O'Connor!

The Australian has taken off 3km from the summit of this climb, and 101.5km from the finish.

Nobody has followed the Australian yet, and he's already opened up a lead of 20 seconds over the rest of the break.

O'Connor still has 20 seconds on the rest of the break, while the peloton is 2:30 behind. The Australian can't have rated the chances of the break's survival, and has taken matters into his own hands.

100KM TO GO

6 riders have bridged up to O'Connor as they near the summit.

Lenny Martinez was one of those riders, and once again takes the points at the climb's summit.

KOM - COTE DE CHARADE

The other riders with O’Connor and Martinez are: Woods, Simmons, Campanaerts, Arensman and Healy.

A few more riders have joined the leading group - Baudin, Valentin Paret-Peintre and Simon Yates.

The leading ten are 20 seconds ahead of the first chasing group, and 50 seconds ahead of the next. The peloton is 3:30 adrift.

90KM TO GO

Having finished the descent, they’re climbing again, this time the 7.3% slopes of the 3.4km Côte de Berzet.

The lead group has swelled some more, with over 15 riders in it again.

Once again Martinez sprint for the points, and once again Martinez gets them. Woods followed for second, with Johannessen third.

KOM - COTE DE BERZET

Martinez looks fully recovered from his ordeal during the first few stages, and has the polka-dot jersey in his sights. He has a significant virtual lead in that classification now:

1 Martinez 22

2 Woods 11

3 Wellens 8

4 Pogačar 7

5 Johannessen 6

One by one riders who missed the splits in the breakaway are being brought back into the peloton.

There are about 20 riders in the lead group, with a small chasing group featuring Alaphilippe not giving up the ghost yet. The peloton is 3:35 down.

80KM TO GO

Harry Sweeny is setting a fierce pace in the lead group. EF are keen to give Healy as big an advantage over the peloton as possible to stand a chance of another stage win.

The race seems over for the Alaphilippe chase group. They're nearly 2:30 behind.

Here were the riders earlier, passing under the shadow of the Puy de Dôme summit that stands tall in this region.

The leaders now have 3:45 over the peloton, while the group in between continues to go backwards and will surely be caught by the latter before long.

70KM TO GO

The gap's grown out to 3:55, which means Ben Healy is now the virtual yellow jersey.

The gap's grown some more, to over four minutes. If the peloton decide not to chase the break down for the stage win, and sit up, Healy could even find himself in the yellow jersey.

Still the gap rises, to 4:27 over the peloton. Meanwhile the Alaphilippe group has been brought back by the peloton.

60KM TO GO

UAE Team Emirates - XRG continue to lead the peloton with Wellens and Politt, but are seeing the break move and further and further up the road.

The break’s lead has touched five minutes for the first time. This is looking very good for their chances of contesting the stage win.

Having done a huge shift today, Harry Sweeny is done and dropped from the break. His work for Ben Healy earlier is a big reason why the break has such a big lead.

They’ve been climbing for a while, but have now reached the official start of the day’s fifth categorised climb - Col de Guéry, which climbs at 6.8% for 3.3km.

Ben Healy's stage win four days ago came from an attack 42km from the finish. Given the success of that move, and his natural tendency towards going long, it feels we can expect him to make a move and strike out solo for the stage win sometime soon.

Back in the peloton, Politt looks like he’s done, after yet another fine shift. Wellens takes over for UAE.

Alex Baudin is leading the break for now, as the last remaining EF teammate present for Healy.

The break is nearing the summit, their lead still at about five minutes.

50KM TO GO

Lenny Martinez moves to the front to take the five points on offer at the top, uncontested this time.

KOM - COTE DE GUERY

O’Connor is on the move, attacking just after the summit of the climb.

He’s been brought back by Baudin, who continues to lead the break.

There are a lot of quality climbers and puncheurs in this break, many of whom are in search of a career first Tour de France stage win - Michael Storer, Thymen Arensman and Valentin Paret-Peintre are such riders, all having won in the other Grand Tours.

Ben Healy has made his move!

HEALY ATTACKS

But he has not managed to go clear. He started his move from deep down the group, and therefore the others had time to mark him.

Healy made that move 45km from the finish - just a few kilometres further out from where he made his winning move on stage 6.

The break starts the antepenultimate climb of the day, Col de la Croix-Morand, still all together.

Of the riders in this lead group, five have won Tour stages in the past - Healy, Yates, Woods, Campanaerts and O’Connor.

Still Baudin leads on this climb, but he looks to be nearing the end of his energy.

Martinez is struggling to hold on at the back of the group. He may be feeling the effects of sprinting for all of those KOM points earlier.

Campanaerts attacks from the back out the group.

Simmons drags the group up to him.

All the riders have followed, apart from Baudin, who is now finished.

Healy ups the pace...

It's not a committed attack, but he's making the others hurt. They're struggling to hang on.

Healy take the points at the top. Martinez was third in line, so takes just the 3 points this time.

KOM - COL DE LA CROIX-MORAND

Simmons attacks at the start of the descent.

Simmons hasn't managed to go clear. Meanwhile the peloton is yet further behind, at 5:30.

40KM TO GO

Campanaerts had been distanced from the break at the top of the climb, but has made his way back on the descent.

Nearly 6 minutes for the break now. Healy is looking more and more likely to be on the podium tonight in the yellow jersey.

O'Connor is trying an attack - he, Healy and Blackmore have gone clear.

Yates is leading the chase behind, but this is a dangerous move.

Yates, Storer and Simmons have joined O'Connor, Healy and Blackmore.

Those 6 riders have a lead of about 5 seconds on the rest of the break.

30KM TO GO

Johannessen has joined the leaders.

Healy, Storer and Simmons have gaind a small gap over the other four.

O'Connor bridges back up to them, Blackmore, Johannessen and Yates on his wheel.

Arensman and Baudin have also now joined them.

Simmons attacks, and has a gap of a few seconds.

Simmons is holding this lead, and looks strong. Healy leads the chase behind him.

Healy has Storer, Yates, O'Connor and Arensman with him.

Martinez is in the wars. Not only is he dropped, he also has a nose bleed.

Healy is doing all the work in the five-man group behind Simmons.

The peloton has woken up. Visma-Lease a Bike have just upped the pace.

Sepp Kuss has gone clear from the peloton with only Onley on his wheel. They are ahead of the peloton.

Onley moves ahead to take over the pace-setting, with Kuss on his wheel. They're a few seconds ahead of the peloton.

Adam Yates leads the peloton for UAE, who have lost Wellens - he's been dropped.

Kuss and Onley have been brought back, but Jorgenson counter-attacks!

Pogačar has to follow this one as Jorgenson's a GC threat - and that he does, latching onto his wheel and bringing the other GC men with him.

Kuss attacks again, with no response from the others. He's not a threat on GC, but could be useful for Vingegaard and Jorgenson if he can get up the road.

Back at the front, Simmons has been brought back by the Healy chase group.

Jorgenson attacks again! He's bridged up to Kuss' wheel.

Pogačar has a teammate with him, who brings the peloton back up to the Visma pair.

Narváez takes over at the front of the peloton, trying to calm things down, but Visma are determined to cause chaos.

Despite all this action, the 6-man lead group of Healy, Storer, Simmons, Yates, Arensman and O'Connor remain 5:30 ahead.

20KM TO GO

There still looks to be about 25 or 30 riders in the peloton.

Healy is doing all the work in the lead group. It seems his priority is now the yellow jersey rather than the stage win.

Pogačar has three UAE teammates with him in the peloton - Soler, Narváez and Yates.

A reminder that Healy began the day 3:55 down on GC. His current virtual lead in the GC is about 1:30 - this could come down to the wire.

None of the other five riders in the lead group are taking a single turn. It’s being left entirely up to the Irishman to do all the work - and for now he’s doing what needs to be done, maintaining the lead of 5:30 over the peloton.

There’s a change at the front of the peloton, as Decathlon take over the pace-setting. Felix Gall is their leader and in this group so presumably they are riding for him - but it’s unclear why exactly.

Simmons has been dropped from the lead group. He must have gone too hard with his earlier attack.

The Jorgenson attacks were made on an uncategorised uphill. Hostilities could resume once they start climbing again, this time up the category two Col de la Croix Saint-Robert (5.1km at 6.3%).

Still Healy leads, and still the gap remains at 5:30, 2km from the summit of the penultimate day of the climb.

Soler is leading the peloton, from which no attacks have been made yet on this climb.

With Healy sacrificing himself for the yellow, it seems the stage win will be one by one of the other four riders - O’Connor, Arensman, Yates or Storer.

That’s a highly decorated group of riders, all with Grand Tour stages on their palmares already, although Storer and Arensman have never won at the Tour de France before.

Jorgenson attacks again! Pog is alert, latching onto his wheel with apparent ease.

There are still over 15 riders in the peloton after that attack, but Skjelmose has been distanced.

Healy leads the break over the climb. Nobody has the cheek to move past him to take the points, having sat on his wheel the whole way up.

KOM - COL DE LA CROIX-ROBERT

Healy managed to increase his and the break's lead over the peloton on that climb, up to 5:40. He's still looking good for yellow.

10KM TO GO

Kuss is leading the peloton, with Jorgenson on his wheel, Vingegaard on his, and the yellow jersey on his.

Vauquelin looks to be struggling a bit towards the back of the 20-man peloton.

Healy's flying down this descent, and maintaining his lead. With just 5km left to ride, he still has his 5:30 lead, and therefore 1:30 in the virtual GC.

5KM TO GO

Jorgenson attacks again just before the summit of the penultimate climb, but Pog has no problem following it once more.

That attacks has reduced the peloton to just ten rider - and no UAE teammates for the yellow jersey.

Kévin Vauquelin has been dropped.

Yates has attacked from the break just as they start the final climb, and has a gap.

SIMON YATES ATTACKS

O'Connor has bridged up to Yates.

This climb is only 3.3km, but averages 7.7% - and is taking its toll, with Arensman, Storer and Healy all distanced.

Campanaerts has dropped back into the peloton and is now leading it as they approach the final climb. Brace yourselves for a Vingegaard attack...

Yates attacks again, and drops O'Connor.

Aresnman has now passed O'Connor and is second on the road, just a few bikelengths behind Yates.

But now Yates grows his lead out again. He's looking good for the stage win.

Healy is fourth on the road, fighting for the yellow jersey. It could be hard for him now, especially if attacks come from the GC group on the climb.

Healy has caught O'Connor.

It looks like it's down to just Yates and Arensman for the stage win. There are just 5 seconds between them, while Healy and O'Connor are 24 seconds behind.

Campanaerts leads the peloton onto the final climb. The Vauquelin group is closing in on them again.

Arensman is closing down on Yates again. He can see him as he goes under the 1km to go banner.

1KM TO GO

The gradients are horribly steep though, foreshortening the gap. Yates still has over 5 seconds.

500m to go, still 5 seconds for Yates.

Back in the peloton, Jorgenson has taken over at the front.

Attack from Evenepoel!

Yates is nearing the finish line...

Victory for Simon Yates. Arensman is second, a few seconds behind.

YATES WINS

Healy comes home in third place, 30 seconds later. Will that be enough for yellow?

Pog attacks, but Vingegaard is on his wheel...

POGACAR ATTACKS

Pogacar eases up, and Vingegaard is still there. Everyone else has been dropped though.

Evenepoel leads the chase behind, with Onley, Roglic and some others for company.

Lenny Martinez has dropped has been caught by Pogacar and Vingegaard from in front and is, for some reason, pacing them both.

The Evenepoel group is 18 seconds behind Pogacar and Vingegaard.

Pogacar has to arrive inside the next minute to deny Healy yellow...

The time has elapsed - Healy is in yellow!

Pogacar and Vingegaard arrive home now, and the Evenepoel group behind managed to regroup and lose just a few seconds.

It's a worse day for Vauquelin though, he arrives alone having lost more time.

What a stage that was - we had a thrilling battle for the stage win, a new yellow jersey, and another Pogačar v Vingegaard duel.

Behind Pogačar and Vingegaard, Lipowitz and Jorgenson limited their loses to just 3 seconds, while Evenepoel, Onley and Roglič just 6 seconds.

Vauquelin is the biggest loser from the top ten. He finished 46 seconds behind the yellow jersey.

What a huge moment this is for Ben Healy. He becomes the first Irishman since Stephen Roche won the Tour in 1987 to wear the yellow jersey. After wining a stage earlier in the race, he’s now become a household name of the sport.

And what a season Simon Yates is having. The Brit already achieved the biggest win of his career by claiming the pink jersey at the Giro d’Italia, and now adds a third Tour de France stage to his palmares.

It was a day of mixed fortunes for Visma-Lease a Bike, but mostly positive. The stage win (their first of this race) is a great bonus, and Vingegaard looked strong when he followed Pogačar’s attack on the final climb. They impressed in all the work they did to put UAE under pressure, and succeeded in isolating the yellow jersey, but couldn’t quite deliver the killer blow.

Pogačar launched an explosive attack on the final climb, but Vingegaard was equal to it.

The pair congratulated each other for their efforts crossing over the line. It’s been a tense race, but no signs of breakdown in their relations.

Thanks for joining us today, for what was a thrilling stage with multiple storylines, including what was a historic moment for Irish cycling. Tomorrow is a rest day, but join us again for Wednesday’s stage 11 as Ben Healy embarks on his first day in the yellow jersey.