It was the first time in Tour history a stage had finished atop the Col d’Izoard, but Froome ensured it was business as usual in the Alps with a composed display under enemy fire.
Frenchman Warren Barguil delighted the crowd with a second stage win that cemented his place atop the mountains classification.
But a policeman on a motorbike was the real hero.
As the Tour was making its way up a gruelling climb on what was one of the toughest stages, a spectator got a little too close to the riders.
The cop shoved one man away as he chased UAE Team Emirates rider Darwin Atapuma, pushing him into a gutter.
Romain Bardet and Dan Martin took turns attacking Froome, while the Brit also attacked himself, on the steepest slopes of the Izoard at the end of a rugged 179.5km journey from Briancon.
Froome would finish fourth and even if Bardet’s late acceleration trimmed his lead to 23 seconds, the penultimate day time trial — a Froome strength — means it would take a catastrophe for the Team Sky spearhead to lose his grip on a fourth Tour de France.
“It was very, very hard stage with the climb to the finish. I’m happy with today,” Froome said.
“I tried to drop Uran and Bardet, but it was virtually impossible today. Of course it would have been nice to take a bit of time, but all in all I’m pretty happy with that. Two seconds over Rigoberto Uran, who I think will be my main rival in the time trial, I’m pretty happy with that.”
With only a routine Stage 19 and the Stage 20 time trial remaining, Froome’s 23-second lead over Bardet and 29-second advantage on Colombian Rigoberto Uran has all but secured him another yellow jersey.
Team Sky was again imperious, setting a ferocious pace for much of the day. Michael Kwiatkowski was so empty after his effort at the front he literally got off his bike at the side of the road. Mikel Landa, fourth overall, then attacked to draw out Bardet and Uran.
Source: Pushy policeman steals Tour de France show | Perth Now
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