The stage was always likely to blow the race apart, and with the climbing starting immediately so did the attacks – Thibaut Pinot leading the way over the top of the Cote des Neyrolles.

He was still at the front over the Col de Berentin, but a 38-strong front group had formed by that point, including Warren Barguil and four Team Sunweb team-mates.

Crashes were a common feature of the day too, with Robert Gesink (LottoNL-Jumbo) and Manuele Mori (UAE Team Emirates) were the first two riders to abandon on the stage.

Eduardo Sepulveda (Fortuneo-Oscaro) and Vegard Stake Laengen (UAE Team Emirates) also spent time on the deck as the composition of the front group continued to change.

The front group swelled again on the descent, with Michael Matthews’ presence allowing him to snaffle maximum points at the intermediate sprint, but Jan Bakelants (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal) went clear thereafter.

Barguil and Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) bridged to the leaders on the Mont du Chat, but more drama was unfolding in the yellow jersey group as Chris Froome suffered a mechanical and Fabio Aru (Astana) immediately attacked.

The rest of the group, including Porte, Quintana, Bardet and Simon Yates (Orica-Scott) slowed the pace, to Aru’s visible annoyance, to allow the race leader back.

Aru’s next attack blew the yellow jersey group apart, however, with Contador, Yates and Louis Meintjes (UAE Team Emirates) dropped, and Froome losing his remaining team-mates.

A number of attacks followed, but Froome stood strong and another acceleration by the yellow jersey group opened more gaps up.

At the front, Barguil led the way over the summit to guarantee he would claim the polka dot jersey, but the gap to the yellow group was rapidly decreasing.

Some momentum was lost when Porte crashed badly on the descent though, misjudging a bend and tumbling across the road after hitting the grassy verge.

Tour de France 2017: stage nine – result

1) Rigoberto Uran (COL) – Cannondale-Drapac – 5.07.22hrs
2) Warren Barguil (FRA) – Team Sunweb – ST
3) Chris Froome (GBR) – Team Sky
4) Romain Bardet (FRA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale
5) Fabio Aru (ITA) – Astana
6) Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) – Astana
7) George Bennett (NZL) – LottoNL-Jumbo +1.15
8) Mikel Landa (ESP) – Team Sky – ST
9) Daniel Martin (IRL) – QuickStep Floors
10) Nairo Quintana (COL) – Movistar
11) Simon Yates (GBR) – Orica-Scott

General classification

1) Chris Froome (GBR) – Team Sky – 38.26.28hrs
2) Fabio Aru (ITA) – Astana +18”
3) Romain Bardet (FRA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale +51”
4) Rigoberto Uran (COL) – Cannondale-Drapac +55”
5) Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) – Astana +1.37
6) Daniel Martin (IRL) – QuickStep Floors +1.44
7) Simon Yates (GBR) – Orica-Scott +2.02
8) Nairo Quintana (COL) – Movistar +2.13
9) Mikel Landa (ESP) – Team Sky +3.06
10) George Bennett (NZL) – LottoNL-Jumbo +3.53