A lumpy parcours enticed plenty of riders into the breakaway, though there was no stopping polka dot jersey Warren Barguil (Team Sunweb) over the top of the first category-one climb, Montée de Naves d’Aubrac.

Stage 14 winner Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb), the nearest challenger to green jersey Marcel Kittel (QuickStep Floors) in the points classification, was in a counter-attack behind, and when they joined the lead group, making a 28-strong breakaway, he was able to scoop 20 points at the intermediate sprint.

Damiano Caruso (BMC Racing) was the highest-ranked rider in the front group, sat 14^th overall at 11’26” – but the Team Sky-led peloton were happy to let him, and the break, go.

Bardet, after the efforts of his team-mates, attacked the GC group further back but Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) bridged across and the others caught back on too.

In the breakaway, Mollema accelerated on the descent, but the chase behind, including Caruso, was organised.

The GC group slowed, allowing a few riders to catch back on, but Quintana was already almost 90 seconds behind and counting.

Mollema led over the final category-four incline up the road, while in the GC group Yates accelerated off the front.

His initial attack was short-lived, as was another acceleration over the summit, before Martin bolted clear on the flat.

That earned the Irishman a small gap on his GC rivals, but the others finished together to ensure Froome takes the yellow jersey into the final rest day.

Tour de France 2017: stage 15 – result

1) Bauke Mollema (NED) – Trek-Segafredo – 4.41.47hrs
2) Diego Ulissi (ITA) – UAE Team Emirates +19”
3) Tony Gallopin (FRA) – Lotto-Soudal – ST
4) Primoz Roglic (SVN) – LottoNL-Jumbo
5) Warren Barguil (FRA) – Team Sunweb +23”
6) Nicolas Roche (IRL) – BMC Racing +1.00
7) Lilian Calmejane (FRA) – Direct Energie +1.04
8) Jan Bakelants (BEL) – Ag2r-La Mondiale – ST
9) Thibaut Pinot (FRA) – FDJ
10) Serge Pauwels (BEL) – Dimension Data

General classification

1) Chris Froome (GBR) – Team Sky – 64.40.21hrs
2) Fabio Aru (ITA) – Astana +18”
3) Romain Bardet (FRA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale +23”
4) Rigoberto Uran (COL) – Cannondale-Drapac +29”
5) Daniel Martin (IRL) – QuickStep Floors +1.12
6) Mikel Landa (ESP) – Team Sky +1.17
7) Simon Yates (GBR) – Orica-Scott +2.02
8) Louis Meintjes (RSA) – UAE Team Emirates +5.09
9) Alberto Contador (ESP) – Trek-Segafredo +5.37
10) Damiano Caruso (ITA) – BMC Racing +6.05