LA PIERRE-SAINT-MARTIN, France — Chris Froome used the first high-mountain stage of this year’s Tour de France to take control of the race, powering up a punishing climb in the Pyrenees on Tuesday at a pace none of his rivals could match.

Froome and his Sky teammates killed off the hopes of one contender after another, including 2014 winner Vincenzo Nibali, the first of the big favorites to crack on the final ascent of Stage 10 to the ski station of La Pierre-Saint-Martin.

As Sky led the way, with three support riders strung out in front of Froome to tug him up the gradients, the lead group shrunk to less than a dozen of the hardiest climbers.

Alberto Contador, the 2007 and 2009 winner, was the next former champion to wilt as Sky rider Richie Porte generated another burst of speed.

With four miles to go, on some of the steepest sections, Froome tore away alone, out of the saddle as he accelerated. The last rider to stay with him, 2013 runner-up Nairo Quintana, couldn’t respond and finished third behind Froome and Porte.

“Froome has landed a hammer blow on the Tour,” said Nibali, the Astana team leader. “I have no more to give. I’m not even the younger brother of the Nibali from last year.”

Froome, who was already wearing the race leader’s yellow jersey after nine stages, is now nearly three minutes in front.

Closest is still Tejay van Garderen, an American on the BMC team. But he’s 2 minutes, 52 seconds behind Froome overall.

Quintana lost more than a minute to Froome on the ascent and is now trailing the British rider by 3:09, in third.

Contador rode in nearly three minutes behind Froome and slipped back to sixth overall, 4:04 behind the leader. Nibali is 6:57 behind Froome in 10th place and looking nothing like the champion who won last year. He lost 4:25 on the climb and was the 21st rider across the line.

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