For Team Sky today's stage 9 of the Tour de France was mostly a quiet one but the team's bad luck continued when Geraint Thomas hit the deck for the second day in arow. Luckily, the Welshman escaped the incident unhurt and is now ready to support Richie Porte in tomorrow's big showdown.

Richie Porte retained a place in the top five as a breakaway contested the victory on stage nine at the Tour de France.

The Tasmanian was flanked by his Team Sky team-mates to emerge through the 170-kilometre mountain test without issue ahead of Monday’s expected GC showdown.

Porte finished in the group of Vincenzo Nibali as the Italian and his Astana squad relinquished the yellow jersey as breakaway riders disappeared up the road.

Frenchman Tony Gallopin (Lotto Belisol) was the thrilled recipient of the race lead as the best-placed rider in a group of 28 men who forged clear ahead of the day’s third climb.

Sitting 3:27 down on Nibali heading into the stage, Gallopin turned that deficit into a 1:34 lead as the race finished close to the German border.

In the end it was a German rider who stole the show as Tony Martin powered clear and secured a fine solo victory following a long-range attack. The Omega Pharma – Quick-Step powerhouse was off the front for almost the entire stage and took the win in Mulhouse by 2:45.

The main peloton crossed the line almost eight minutes back on Martin and the end result saw Porte drop to fifth as both Gallopin and Tiago Machado (NetApp-Endura) jumped above him courtesy of days in the break.

Geraint Thomas was again prominent in the group but suffered a small crash for the second day in succession on the climb of Le Markstein.

“It was a little tumble,” he confirmed.

“It’s frustrating with riders fighting like it’s a bunch sprint on a climb. There was a squeeze and I just toppled over a bit. I’m fine apart from the fact I landed on the same side as yesterday.

“It took a long time for the break to go. It was certainly on for that first hour and a half. We kept riding at a decent tempo all day. It was constantly pressing on and never easy. It was another solid day before another big day tomorrow.

“It’s up and down all day and I think the GC will really get sorted out. There will be a lot of tired bodies and some big attacks on the last climb.”