Tinkoff-Saxo leader Alberto Contador is likely to be among the biggest threats to Froome at the Tour and he once again proved he is approaching top form with another strong ride.

At Tirreno-Adriatico he was peerless, and on this occasion only Joaquim Rodriguez got the better of him. A succession of attacks and his feisty riding style were a reminder of El Pistolero at his very best.

Froome will be encouraged he was able to stick close enough to the Spaniard to ensure only a handful of seconds separated them in the end and the penultimate stage of the Tour being a long individual time trial certainly benefits Froome.

But Contador has made anybody who wrote him off after last year’s Tour de France think again. On this form he will push Froome, Vincenzo Nibali and anybody else harbouring Tour de France ambitions right to the death.