FROOME RETAINS TOUR LEAD

The Tour de France threw the kitchen sink at Chris Froome: steep mountain ascents followed by daredevil descents at speeds exceeding 45 miles per hour that wiped out other riders, the loss of his top teammate in a crash, a breakdown on his bike and rivals who tried to make him crack with bursts of acceleration. But the most grueling, drama-filled day so far of the 104th Tour finished, again, with Froome still wearing the race leader’s yellow jersey. By surviving Stage 9 that put 12 riders out of the race and left others bloodied and bandaged, the three-time champion took a big step toward a fourth victory in Paris on July 23. At the start Sunday, eight riders had been within a minute of Froome in the overall standings. Now, just three are. Among top names gone completely: Richie Porte and Froome’s teammate Geraint Thomas, who led the Tour for its first four days. Both crashed out. Porte, who had been fifth overall, was zooming downhill in pursuit of Froome when he missed a lefthand bend, cartwheeled across the road and bowled over another rider, Dan Martin, before slamming into a stony, vine-covered bank. He was diagnosed with a fractured pelvis and collarbone. Thomas broke his collarbone.