Surrounded by four team-mates as he crossed the line in Morzine at the end of the 146.5km Alpine stage from Megeve, Froome could afford himself a smile of satisfaction despite the treacherous conditions.

Romain Bardet snatched back six seconds in a sprint to the line but remained 4min 05sec back in second with Nairo Quintana third at 4:21.

But with only Sunday’s virtual procession into Paris to come, the Tour is all but over.

The conditions made the roads slippery and dangerous and after a raft a crashes on Friday, it served to almost neutralise the race amongst the top 10 riders and few were prepared to take a risk.

The only two to attack out of the group of favourites were Bauke Mollema and Joaquim Rodriguez, but they were merely squabbling over 10th place with Roman Kreuziger, who started the day 12th, up the road in a breakaway — their quibbles were of no concern to Froome’s yellow jersey aspirations.

The rest rode as if happy to hold onto what they had, rather than risk losing everything in the drab conditions in a quest to snatch a place or two in the standings.

Quintana — who was second to Froome in his previous two successes in 2013 and last year — had admitted as much before the stage, claiming he was contented with his lot having suffered with illness the last few days.

“A third place or another podium in the Tour in these conditions is a joy for me and I’m very happy,” said the 26-year-old Colombian who many expected to dethrone Froome this year.

Slovakia’s Peter Sagan won the green points jersey for a fifth straight year and Rafal Majka of Poland claimed the polkadot king of the mountains jersey for the second time in three years.