Chris Froome provided the Bastille Day fireworks on the Tour de France's first mountain day with a victory on stage 10 to La Pierre-Saint-Martin which distanced his rivals in the race for the yellow jersey.
Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford on Monday's rest day alleged the British squad has been the victim of computer hacking by critics convinced Froome is using performance-enhancing drugs.
Froome, during the 2013 Tour which he won, was subjected to sustained interrogations and his performances were pored over by critics, with some using data to justify their stance.
The 30-year-old Team Sky leader, who has always denied doping, can expect further inquisitions from a public sceptical after years of drug cheats winning the Tour following a stunning win.
He ruthlessly attacked 6.4km from the end of the 167-kilometre route from Tarbes to the summit of the first hors categorie (beyond category) climb to surge to a fifth Tour stage success.
The 15.3km ascent averages at 7.4 per cent, but the first two-thirds of the climb was brutal in its gradient, with large sections over nine per cent.
The explosive acceleration left his rivals in his wake as Froome grabbed the race by the scruff of the neck.
Eleven stages remain and this was the first mountain stage, but such was Froome's dominance that his fifth Tour stage win could be decisive in the race to Paris on July 26.
mfl
Source: PA-WIRE
