Froome began 110.5km stage from Modane Valfréjus to Alpe d'Huez with a 2min 38sec advantage over the Colombian climber in the general classification, but found himself put to the test on the Col de la Croix de Fer, 56km into the stage.

Movistar team mates Quintana and Spain's Alejandro Valverde both sat in podium positions behind Froome and they took it in turns to attack the Briton, with Valverde first to the make his move with three kilometres to the summit of the climb.

Even a series of accelerations from the pair was unable to shake the attentions of Froome, who displayed his strength by staying with his rivals in spite of becoming isolated, having seen his domestiques dropped on the first major climb of the day.

Froome would have been relived then to have been joined by his compatriots on the descent and it proved a crucial moment in the stage as the yellow jersey group prepared for the 1,850 metres ascent of Alpe d'Huez, with 10km left to race, his final challenge.

Further up the road a breakaway group of France's Alexandre Geniez and Thibaut Pinot were joined by Canada's Ryder Hesjedal as they pursued a the penultimate stage victory on arguably the Tour de France's most iconic climb.

Pinot proved to be the strongest of the three riders and went solo at six kilometres to the finish, with the Frenchman appearing determined to take the stage having seen several opportunities slip away in the recent days, as his general classification bid had been ended in the opening week of the race.

He was pursued by Quintana, who had finally managed to break Froome's resistance, making one final effort to overhaul his deficit on the race leader and claim the yellow jersey on the final summit finish.

He gained more than a minute on the Team Sky rider but not to be enough as, with the support of the Netherlands' Wouter Pouls and Australia's Richie Porte, Froome was able to maintain his leadership of the race.

Quintana would also fall short of taking the stage victory, as Pinot's persistence was rewarded, securing a third French stage victory in 3 hours 17min 21sec.

All eyes, though, were on Froome, who again appeared to be spat at by a spectator during the stage, but his thoughts were focused on claiming the Tour de France for the second time, having won the 100th edition of the race in 2013.

"There have been so many emotions going through my mind up to that last climb of the Tour de France," he said.

"I've always had team mates with me.

"The job they've done has saved my yellow jersey, we were obviously trying to control Nairo Quintana.

"Today's stage was only 110km long but it felt like riding flat out for 300km.

"It's unreal, winning the Tour again gives me an unbelievable feeling."

Froome's lead over Quintana heading into ceremonial final 109.5km stage into Paris stands at 1:12, while Valverde has secured his first ever podium finish in the three-week race.

The general classification riders will not be at the head of tomorrow's stage with the sprinters keen to crown their Tour's by claiming victory on the Champs-Elysées, with Britain's Mark Cavendish set to target a fifth win on the famous boulevard.

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