Tour de France leader Chris Froome was stunned at his own performance as he clinched stage 10 to take a significant step towards general classification victory.

Froome, Tour winner in 2013, came into Tuesday's 167-kilometre stage between Tarbes and La Pierre-Saint-Martin with a 12-second lead.

But after the end of a gruelling mountain finish, Froome's advantage stands at two minutes and 52 seconds as a number of his rivals dropped off in a brutal final ascent.

The likes of Alberto Contador, Nairo Quintana and nearest challenger Tejay Van Garderen all failed to keep up with Froome, who finished almost a minute clear of Team Sky team-mate Richie Porte, with Quintana taking third.

Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford claimed Froome's computer data had been hacked by those attempting to expose the rider as a drugs cheat, but the Brit showed unwavering focus in powering to the win.

"I'm lost for words," he said. "That was unbelievable.

"I couldn't believe it when I asked the guys to push on a little bit and we were just hearing on the radio the big names who were getting dropped.

"It was textbook from the team. The guys rode such a good race there. I'm over the moon to have been able to finish it off them."

"It was a little bit bad picking Quintana's pocket but it's a race," added Porte. "Chris was absolutely fantastic today.

"I take my hat off to Geraint Thomas as well. It's one day in the Tour. We can't get carried away. We are not getting too far in front of ourselves but it is still a fantastic feeling."

Contador meanwhile, was left disconsolate after a difficult day in the Pyrenees.

"I didn't feel great today at all," said the Tinkoff-Saxo man. "I wasn't able to breathe very well at all.

"If you don't breathe, you don't feel your legs. I did not feel good at all. It just wasn't my day. I usually do well on those sorts of days but this just didn't go well."