Ricco takes Stage 9 in Tour de France

BAGNERES-DE-BIGORRE, France, July 13 (UPI) -- Italy's Riccardo Ricco won Stage 9 of the Tour de France Sunday, finishing more than a minute ahead of Russia's Vladimir Efimkin.

Ricco covered 224 kilometers (139 miles) in the Pyrenees mountains in five hours, 39 minutes and 28 seconds. He had also won Stage 6.

Kim Kirchen of Luxembourg placed 12th, good enough to keep his overall lead in the 21-stage race.

Ricco's latest victory left him in 21st place overall.

"The mountains are my domain and it's great to be able to perform so well," Ricco said.

Stage 10 Monday will cover a 156-kilometer (97-mile) stretch from Pau to the ski resort of Hautacam.