FINHAUT-EMOSSON, Switzerland (AP) Ilnur Zakarin won the first Alpine stage of the Tour de France after using a late attack in the final climb on Wednesday while race leader Chris Froome increased his lead in the overall standings.
Zakarin was part of a breakaway that formed early in the 184.5-kilometer (114.6-mile) 17th stage from Bern to the artificial lake of Finhaut-Emosson in Switzerland.
After Rafal Majka and Jarlinson Pantano tried to move away from the leading pack on the descent of Col de La Forclaz, the Russian cyclist dropped them with a furious attack with 6.5 kilometers left.
It was Zakarin's first stage win at cycling's biggest event.
Zakarin, who was suspended in 2009 for two years after testing positive for the forbidden anabolic methandienone, finished 55 seconds ahead of Pantano. Majka was third, 1:26 back.
Riding several minutes behind the breakaway riders, Richie Porte attacked for the yellow jersey group around two kilometers from the finish before Froome accelerated.
Nairo Quintana was the only one able to follow the defending champion's frenetic pace but the Colombian climber cracked after a few hundred meters.
Froome and Porte - who rode in support of Froome at Team Sky before he joined BMC this season - crossed the finish line together.
Froome, the 2013 and 2015 champion at the Tour, now leads Bauke Mollema by 2:27 overall. Adam Yates is third, 2:53 off the pace.
