Boasson Hagen victorious in the 19th stage

The Team Sky rider all but wrapped up a fourth title on Saturday after beating Rigoberto Uran and Romain Bardet comprehensively in the final solo effort against the clock, having already started with an advantage after the opening time trial in Dusseldorf.

Sewing up his fourth Tour crown with a cool-as-a-cucumber ride in a high-pressure time trial in heat-baked Marseille on Saturday means he needs just one victory more to join the record-holders who have five.

“I have to do everything right”. “I risked everything. I have nothing to regret”.

Cannondale-Drapac’s Uran was seen as the main threat given Bardet’s record in time trials, but though the Colombian went well he lost time when he took a late corner wide and collided with the barriers, finishing 25 seconds off Froome’s pace.

“It’s the same as in Dusseldorf”.

“I have to make sure I do everything right, follow the right processes and hopefully not have a bad day”.

“When I can push, I will push”.

“This is fantastic. The team helped me a lot before the break went away”.

“It was a good opportunity for us GC guys who have had a tough time in the Alps to regain a bit energy and sit on the wheels ahead of tomorrow’s time trial”.

Bardet said he was proud of what he’d achieved and would, once he has had time to absorb events at the Tour, take heart from his performance.

“There’s nothing to think about. You just have to give it everything and not ask any questions”, said the AG2R rider.

Romain Bardet, who went into Saturday’s stage in second place behind Froome, was ill and lost so much time that Froome nearly overtook him as they entered the Stade Velodrome.

“I’ve certainly got a new-found appreciation for just how hard it is for these guys to have won five Tours”.

“I’m expecting a royal battle, man to man, and to have no regrets”.

Fans wedged onto the 2,360m sun-bleached summit roared home Warren Barguil as the Frenchman broke clear to win the iconic stage, but it was not the story most of the home fans wanted.

“I rode the time trial with my head, because I knew I wasn’t up to the task physically”.

And the 30-year-old certainly isn’t ready to let anyone start crowning the Briton.

British cyclist Chris Froome, who’s defending his title from the 2016 Tour de France, looks set to come out on top once more.

Uran added: “The past isn’t important, what matters is the present and what happens tomorrow. They had several chances to take time off Froome and they did not take them”, American LeMond said.

He’s 29sec behind Froome but has good form in time-trials as a former national champion and victor of a stage at the Giro d’Italia in the discipline.