“To be honest I don’t really think it changes too much,” Froome said of the decision. “The climb up to Chalet Reynard [where the stage will now finish] is extremely hard already. It’s another 200km-plus stage. A lot of wind is predicted. It could even be split before we reach the climb. But if anything I think it’s going to be an even more intense race once we do hit the climb, because it’s slightly shorter.”

Sir Dave Brailsford, Team Sky’s principal, conceded that the decision to cut the last section of the climb was a “shame” — particularly for fans who have been camping at the summit for days – but he too said that it might just serve to spice things up.