Chris Froome has strengthened his grip on the Tour de France title a third stage victory, beating his closest rival Alberto Contador by nine seconds on the 32 kilometre time trial.
Froome was too tough for the field on the hilly time trial stage, and he was surprised to have won a rain-affected stage he described as dangerous and technical.
The British rider leads the Spaniard Contador by 4 minutes 34 seconds, and the Czech Roman Kreuziger has moved into third place ahead of the Dutchman Bauke Mollema going into three days of mountain stages.
Tonight's 172 kilometre stage features six climbs, including two up the legendary Alpe d'Huez, and up to one million spectators are expected on the ascent.
