Froome’s cause, of course, was not aided by the saga which rumbled on for much of the season: who would lead Team Sky at the Tour? Despite having been assured he would lead the team, Froome faced the constant barrage of questions as Wiggins vacillated publicly on his intentions to defend his title.

The constant doubt could easily have derailed his preparations for the Tour, but whenever his proposed leadership was questioned, Froome simply responded with more victories. When injury to Wiggins after a desperately disappointing Giro eventually put an end to such questions, Froome could have delivered his own verbal riposte, but instead insisted that the loss of Wiggins from Sky’s Tour team was a disappointing one. And he ultimately answered any questions over his suitability for the team leadership in the most emphatic way possible – by storming to victory.