The 185 kilometre route from Berne to Finhaut-Emosson was the first of four tough mountain stages, which would give general classification hopefuls the chance to attack Team Sky’s Froome.

Due to the tough stages in the final week of the race, Australia’s Rohan Dennis and Britain’s Mark Cavendish opted to withdraw during the rest day, with the latter ending his impressive Tour with four stage wins.

A breakaway was unable to form in the early stages of the race, due to multiple attacks, but a 19-man group was finally established after 105km as they approached the top of the Col des Mosses.

Poland’s Rafal Majka continued to animate the race and went away with Colombia’s Jarlinson Pantano prior to the 13km long Col de la Forclaz, but they were caught by Zakarin inside the final eight kilometres of the stage.

The Russian, who served a two-year doping ban between 2009 and 2011, attacked twice in the closing metres and eventually broke free of the attentions of Pantano, who had won stage 15.

Zakarin battled up the brutal ascent at Finhaut-Emosson to claim the win in a time of 4hr, 36min and 33sec, with Pantano ultimately finishing as the runner-up, 55 seconds down.

The general classification group ended well down on the winner, but their battle was lit up in the final two kilometres by an attack from Australia’s Richie Porte, who rides for BMC Racing.

Froome proved the only man capable of following the attack from his former Team Sky team-mate, with second place Bauke Mollema of The Netherlands and Colombia’s Nairo Quintana falling off the pace.

Both Froome and Porte eventually ended 28 seconds ahead of Quintana and a further 12 clear of Mollema.

An impressive display by Adam Yates, leader of the best young rider classification, saw the Briton end just eight seconds adrift of Froome.

“If I was in a small team, I would have very different goals, maybe I'd be looking for a breakaway every day, I'd chase an opportunity to win a stage,” Froome said afterwards.

“The main difference between Team Sky and the other teams is that my eight team-mates are focused on one goal only, which is to help me win the Tour de France while other teams have two GC riders or a sprinter or someone to go for breakaways.

“Leading the Tour de France is about dealing with being in the yellow jersey and going to the press conference every day.

At the beginning, you feel the pressure when you find yourself in this position, now it's easier, I'm more relaxed.”

Froome is now 2:27 ahead of Mollema in the overall standings and appears set to successfully defend his Tour de France title and win the Grand Tour for the third time.

After his struggles today, Mollema is now just 26 seconds ahead of Yates in the standings.

Tomorrow will see a 17km individual mountain time trial from Sallanches to Megeve.