Kelly says rivals let Froome off hook

Sean Kelly believes Chris Froome’s rivals will be kicking themselves for not having done more to take the yellow jersey off his shoulders during Sunday’s dramatic stage nine of the Tour de France.

Froome’s Team Sky squad fell apart during the first of the five categorised climbs in the Pyrenees, leaving the race leader exposed amid a pack of predators.

That the 28-year-old managed to defend himself without losing any time — he still leads the second-placed Alejandro Valverde by one minute 25 seconds — reinforced the impression that he is the strongest rider on the Tour.