De Gendt had been aggressive from the start in the polka dot jersey, but paid for his efforts on Mont Ventoux a few days earlier and did not make the decisive split, whereas Majka did.

Serge Pauwels (Dimension Data) and Daniel Navarro (Cofidis), second and third at Chalet Reynard, were also in the break, as was double stage winner Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) and Astana’s Giro d’Italia champion Vincenzo Nibali among many others.

Sebastien Reichenbach (FDJ) was the best-placed rider overall, having started the day 11.41 in arrears in 17^th place, but the peloton was relaxed about letting the big group go clear.

Majka went to work bagging the mountain points – finishing second behind Thomas Voeckler (Direct Energie) and Pauwels on the Col du Sappel and Col de Pisseloup respectively.

On the HC-climb of the Grand Colombier, the large breakaway was blown apart, however – Dylan van Baarle (Cannondale) upping the ante, before Nibali and Dumoulin launched their own counter-attacks.

By the time the group crested the climb, however, only Majka, Pantano and Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha) remained, and that was down to two as Zakarin’s cautious descent put paid to his hopes.

Poels led the GC group home a little more than three minutes later – Froome on his wheel and Nairo Quintana (Movistar), again strangely subdued, behind the yellow jersey.

It means Froome still leads by 1’47” over Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), with fellow Brit Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange) third at 2’45” and in the white jersey.

Tour de France 2016: stage 15 – result

1) Jarlinson Pantano (COL) – IAM Cycling – 4.24.49hrs
2) Rafal Majka (POL) – Tinkoff – ST
3) Alexis Vuillermoz (FRA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale +6”
4) Sebastien Reichenbach (SUI) – FDJ – ST
5) Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) – Etixx-QuickStep +22”
6) Serge Pauwels (BEL) – Dimension Data +25”
7) Pierre Rolland (FRA) – Cannondale – ST
8) Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) – Katusha +1.30
9) Daniel Navarro (ESP) – Cofidis – ST
10) Tom-Jelte Slagter (NED) – Cannondale +2.08

General classification

1) Chris Froome (GBR) – Team Sky – 68.14.36hrs
2) Bauke Mollema (NED) – Trek-Segafredo +1.47
3) Adam Yates (GBR) – Orica-BikeExchange +2.45
4) Nairo Quintana (COL) – Movistar +2.59
5) Alejandro Valverde (ESP) – Movistar +3.17
6) Romain Bardet (FRA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale +4.04
7) Richie Porte (AUS) – BMC Racing +4.27
8) Tejay van Garderen (USA) – BMC Racing +4.47
9) Daniel Martin (IRL) – Etixx-QuickStep +5.03
10) Fabio Aru (ITA) – Astana +5.16