British rider Chris Froome extended his lead on the yellow jersey winning Stage 15 of the Tour de France, a stage that included an ascension on Mont Ventoux.
"It was incredible today, incredible," said Froome. "This is the biggest victory of my career," Froome said. "I didn't imagine this, this climb is so historical. It means so much to this race, especially being the 100th edition. I really can't believe this."
Froome managed to hold off Colombian Nairo Quintana, who attacked the Brit four times during Stage 9 Pyrenean mountains route of the Tour that ran up to Bagneres-de-Bigorre, finishing in second place, 29 seconds behind Froome.
"I thought I was going to surrender the victory to Quintana because he was very good when I joined him on the front," said Froome. "But in the last 2km I saw that he was tiring and so I went for the win."
Froome set a blistering pace, determined to maintain his lead, about two-thirds up the 13-mile Mont Ventoux, proving to be too much for two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, who finished 1 minute and 40 behind the overall leader. Froome finishes the stage ahead of Dutchman Bauke Mollema by 4 minutes, 14 seconds and Contador by 4:25 in the overall standings.
Stage 15 is the longest trek in the race, with riders cycling over 151 miles from Givors in the Rhone Valley to the Provence region. Mont Ventoux was the point in the race where Britain's Tom Simpson collapsed and died on it during the 1967 Tour.
Monday is a day of rest for cyclists after a raucous Stage 15 that was held on Bastille Day - France's National Day. Stages 16 through 18 feature two ascents up the l'Alpe d'Huez pass and "Hors Categorie" climbs, considered so difficult that they defy classification.
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