Britain's Chris Froome remained on course for a third Tour de France victory by extending his lead to two minutes and 27 seconds on stage 17.
Russia's Ilnur Zakarin won the stage with a breakaway on the steep ascent to the finish at Finhaut-Emosson, before Froome powered away from his rivals.
Adam Yates, who is third overall, was the only yellow-jersey contender close to keeping up with his fellow Briton.
Bauke Mollema and Nairo Quintana lost considerable time on the race leader.
Katusha rider Zakarin, 26, was 55 seconds clear of Colombian Jarlinson Pantano at the finish, with Poland's Rafal Majka tightening his grip on the polka dot jersey - for the best climber - by coming third.
Froome demoralises rivals
Movistar's Quintana, 26, had been billed as Team Sky rider Froome's biggest threat this year, having finished runner-up to the 31-year-old in 2013 and 2015.
But the Colombian, a notable climber in the mountains, did not have the strength to keep up with Froome, who followed BMC rider Richie Porte in the final 2km of one of the steepest finishes in this year's event.
Trek rider Mollema, who is second overall, had already been dropped by that point and the Dutchman conceded a damaging 40 seconds to Froome, with Quintana losing 28 seconds.
The result, on a 184km stage that started in Berne and, for the first time, remained entirely in Switzerland, could prove to be the knockout blow from Froome.
He now has to survive just three more stages through the Alps before the mainly processional final run-in to Paris on Sunday.
"It was very difficult because of the heat," said Froome. "But my team were incredible, they did an amazing job and I was able to stay with the best."
Yates grows in stature
The only rival who looked capable of coming close to matching Froome was fellow Briton Yates.
The sight of the 23-year-old from Bury, the leading young rider on the Tour, pulling away from the highly rated Quintana was one few expected to see before the event.
This is only Yates' third appearance in a Grand Tour race - after finishing 50th in last year's Tour de France and 82nd in the 2014 Vuelta a Espana - and he was just six seconds behind Froome on the stage, closing the gap to third-placed Mollema to 26 seconds overall.
Yates will be part of Great Britain's road race team at the Rio Olympics next month, where he will support Froome's pursuit of a medal.
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