Tour de France: stage 15 – in pictures

Daryl Impey on the startline this morning. And pray he should – the Ventoux in the heat is a serious opponent Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

France's great hope for the Tour, Pierre Rolland inspects his bike before the start. That kit though? The horror, the horror… Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

Taping the route to the handlebars is almost pointless today. All you need to know is the Ventoux at the end. Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

It wouldn't be a visit to Provence if a photographer didn't end up smelling of Lavendar. Photograph: JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images

Having survived almost intact from numerous concerted attacks, Froome still sits in yellow. Today will ask even more questions of his Sky team. Photograph: JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images

Riding the Tour is one of the most physically demanding feats on the planet. Following it as a journalist can be one of the most demanding mental feats. A journo takes a rare moment to himself at the top of Ventoux. Photograph: Peter Dejong/AP

Alberto Contador smiles and jokes with his teammate – he won't be left smiling at the end of the stage. Photograph: Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images

Fans gather atop Ventoux. Tour organiser ASO believed there to be a million people on the mountain. Popular consensus is this is probably not entirely accurate… Photograph: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Sylvain Chavanel joined the day's break with the hope of staying away – a French win on Ventoux on Bastille Day would mean he'd never have to buy another drink in his life. Sadly, it was not to be Photograph: JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images

The young Columbian rider Nairo Quintana attacked early with 12km to go. A gutsy move, but no match for Chris Froome Photograph: Guillume Horcajuelo/EPA

After looking fragile and exposed for the last few stages, Sky started to look a little more solid as a team – with Porte's devastating pace decimating the GC group Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

After Richie Porte thinned down the field, Froome dropped Contador with a vicious acceleration without even getting out of the saddle. He went on to bridge his way up to Quintana further up the mountain Photograph: Jeff Pachoud/Pool/EPA

After a couple of little digs, Quintana couldn't hold Froome's wheel, leaving him to claim the stage victory solo at the Ventoux weather station Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Contador, after a brief coalition with Mikel Nieve of Euskaltel, ended up dropping back to his teammate Michael Rogers further down the field. He crossed the line 1:40 behind Froome – his advantage from Friday's surprise attack completely negated Photograph: Yoan Valat/EPA

Froome not only strengthened his lead on the general classification, but also took the lead in the King of the Mountains competition. With Froome unable to wear two jerseys, it looks like it'll be either Quintana or Nieve in polka dots tomorrow. Thankfully, Rolland's hideous shorts are now a thing of the past Photograph: Yoan Valat/EPA