The Team Sky rider, the 2013, 2015 and 2016 winner, began the 22.5 kilometre individual time trial with a 23sec lead over second place Romain Bardet of France.

His biggest rival had been expected to be Colombia’s Cannondale-Drapac rider Rigoberto Uran, who began 29sec behind, but had a greater time trial pedigree.

Froome was able to benefit from watching his team-mate Michal Kwiatkowski tackle the course, which began and ended in the Stade Vélodrome, home of the Olympique de Marseille football team.

The Polish rider achieved a time of 28min 16sec, with Froome gaining insight from the team car before beginning his effort at a later time.

Kwiatkowski ended as runner-up on the stage, with fellow Polish rider Maciej Bodnar, riding for Bora-Hansgrohe, finishing 1sec faster to claim the stage win.

The battle for the overall victory began when Uran took to the course, but French eyes were focused on AG2R-La Mondiale’s Bardet.

The Frenchman suffered throughout much of the ride, effectively assuring Uran of at least a second place finish, despite the Colombian suffering a scare when he collided with a barrier approaching the finish.

Bardet struggles were reflected further when Froome, beginning 2min behind, nearly caught the Frenchman in the closing metres.

The Team Sky rider finished with the third fastest time of the day in 21:21, effectively sealing the overall victory.

“It was so close coming in this time trial,” said Froome.

“I just spoke to my wife and I'm going to Paris tomorrow with my son.

“This was my closest Tour de France, the more hard fought between the riders on general classification.

“I didn't think it would come down to this time trial in Marseille, but it did.

“I'm delighted with winning again.”

Froome now leads the race by 54sec from Uran heading into tomorrow’s final stage, a largely ceremonial 103km route from Montgeron to Paris.

Bardet slipped to third position, 2:20 down on the yellow jersey, with the Frenchman narrowly holding onto his podium place as Spain’s Mikel Landa lies 1sec adrift.

The second and final day of La Course by the Tour de France also took place today, with a 22.5km "chase" in Marseille.

Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten began 43sec clear of Lizzie Deignan of Britain after winning the opening stage by the margin.

Deignan opted to wait for Boels Dolmans team-mate Megan Guarnier of the United States and Italy’s Elisa Longo Borghini in a bid to work together to chase down van Vleuten.

It proved an unsuccessful move as van Vleuten triumphed in 32:52, with Deignan winning the sprint for second against Longo Borghini at 1:52 down on the winner.