It was supposed to be an epic Tour de France stage in which various rivals pooled forces to loosen Chris Froome's grip on the race's yellow jersey.

Instead, for the second time in a pulsating 100th edition, the Team Sky leader pummeled his rivals into submission with a number of rapid bursts on his way to a famous victory on arguably the Tour's toughest ever climb.

The damage, two days after Spanish rival Alberto Contador had clawed back 1 min 09 sec to close his deficit to 2:48, was significant.