Fantastic Chris Froome turns on the style

Chris Froome stamped his class all over the Tour de France yesterday by totally obliterating the field on the first mountain stage of this year’s race.

The Team Sky man crossed the line first at the summit of La-Pierre-Saint-Martin in the Pyrenees 59 seconds clear of team-mate Richie Porte with Colombian Nairo Quintana (Movistar) third a further five seconds back.

Froome, the 2013 Tour winner, now holds a commanding lead of 2:52 over his closest challenger, Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing Team), with Quintana at 3:09.