Chris Froome is firmly on course for his third Tour de France in-a-row and his fourth overall, and Bookmakers are hugely odds on for him to win.

Nobody has been as dominant of the Tour since the likes of Miguel Indurain and the disgraced Lance Armstrong, but Froome is quickly become the greatest British cyclist of all time.

The ninth stage of this year’s tour was considering the ‘Queen’ stage – the most important stage of the tour and that is exactly how it transpired.

The Nantua to Chambery had three big climbs and also the famed descent of the Mont du Chat which proved decisive as Froome’s former team-mate and biggest rival for the Yellow Jersey – Richie Porte, crashed out in horrific fashion broke his collarbone and fractured his pelvis.

Froome himself was brilliant on the day as he finished in the leading group, but he did see his most trusted lieutenant at Team Sky, Geraint Thomas also crash out.

“I’ve just seen the images of Richie Porte’s crash and that leaves you with a horrible feeling. I really hope he’s alright and can make a speedy recovery,” said Froome.

“Of course my teammate Geraint Thomas as well, he crashed out today with a broken collarbone, so I’ve got mixed feelings after that stage today.

“The rest of my team – the guys did a massive job. A massive, massive job. To control that type of a race today is no easy task and they did it really well, so chapeau guys.”

Froome is 18 seconds clear at the top of the classifications ahead of Italian champion Fabio Aru – who now looks his biggest rival after the likes of Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana all struggled and dropped back.

Froome is now the clear favourite to retain his jersey and Unibet rate him at 7/25 with Aru his nearest rival at 9/2.