Tour de France Stage 19: Froome crashes, Bardet wins

Chris Froome retained his Tour de France lead despite crashing on a dramatic stage 19, which was won by home favourite Romain Bardet.

The Team Sky rider took a heavy fall on a slippery surface with just over 10 kilometres left, forcing him to continue on team-mate Geraint Thomas' bike.

With the famous yellow jersey ripped to reveal badly grazed skin, a clearly fatigued Froome managed to limit the damage and was helped in part by nearest general classification rival Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) also crashing.

It was a gritty ride from reigning champion Froome, who triumphed in Thursday's uphill time trial and now sits more than four minutes clear.

The 146-kilometre route from Albertville to Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc provided plenty of talking points, with the wet road claiming numerous victims.

Friday also produced the first French winner of a stage at this year's Tour as Ag2r-La Mondiale rider Bardet prevailed, much to the delight of a home crowd who had earlier been less sporting in cheering when Froome fell.

The Briton came off on a bend and was followed soon after by Vincenzo Nibali, but Mollema had already come unstuck himself.

Indeed, none of Froome's main rivals were able to profit from the 31-year-old's misfortune, with compatriot Adam Yates now four minutes and 36 seconds behind in fourth.

He was leapfrogged by Bardet and Movistar's Nairo Quintana, who took fifth on the day as Spanish duo Joaquin Rodriguez and Alejandro Valverde completed the podium.

With only one competitive stage left before Sunday's procession to Paris, a third Tour title seems assured for Froome.