Froome ready to support Team Sky colleague Thomas

Guimard also pointed to Froome’s show of strength as the better climber at the 2012 Tour, when he had to work for then Team Sky leader, and eventual race victor, Bradley Wiggins.

“For me this is the highlight of my career, it’s a massive honour and priviledge to be wearing the jersey and have such an incredible race so far”, he said. On Friday, a flare was tossed across the peloton with less than 20 kilometres to go. If I have to pull towards the end then I will. “It was pretty stressful so I had no idea”.

As such, when race director Christian Prudhomme waved his flag to start the racing, almost everyone wanted to be in the break.

“It was very handsome to win today after three days in the Alps”, said Sagan, whose 11th stage win on the race helped take his tally in the points competition to 398 points.

The question for Thomas is whether he can hold it all together over three weeks as we have now reached uncharted territory for the Welshman – a point he has been keen to make himself. The riders on the Tour, and champions of the Tour, must obviously be respected, as they are by the large majority of the public. But at a stroke, it all went up again.

“I knew I had the legs to win, and that I would be fastest at the line, but I still kept some powder dry in case”, said the 25-year-old Dane.

Cavendish was in trouble long before the explosive end to this short mountainous stage, which was created to promote attacks.

“So close to the (finish), it’s all about, ‘Do I go for it or not?’ Maybe if they put it earlier in the race it could have been a bigger battle”, Steels says.

“The way I see it, I’d rather be in this jersey having the race of my life and getting booed than being 30th and dropped on the first climb and everyone cheering me on”. “I’m sure it will be good to watch, maybe not to race”.

Thomas did ask for fans to not interfere in the race after Froome was slapped on the back going up Alpe d’Huez and contender Vincenzo Nibali was forced to quit after he broke a vertebra when knocked to the ground by a police motorbike tasked with keeping back the crowd.

For a third straight day, Thomas heard some boos as he appeared on the podium to collect his yellow jersey in Valence. Equally, I don’t think that spitting has a place in the sport.

Although Sky will be hoping to keep powder dry for the crucial third week, Froome said their rivals could try to steal time on the steep, 3km-long climb to the finish in Mende.

Brailford’s lack of diplomacy is likely to add fuel to the fire as the race enters the Pyrenees, where fans generally show up in large numbers along twisting and narrow roads, often getting over-excited in a booze-fueled atmosphere.

“I was on the wheel of (Alexander) Kristoff, then I made my move”. So, I’m very happy! – explained Magnus Cort.

Thomas did that comfortably, and when Mikel Nieve slid into view, trying to win the stage from the breakaway, another prize was on offer and he sped up again, passing the Mitchelton-Scott man inside the last 400 metres.