Defending champion Chris Froome retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey on the Tour de France after an incident involving a motorbike left him without a bike in a farcical finale to the 12th stage yesterday.

The Briton’s bike was broken in a pile-up close to the finish and the Team Sky rider began running up the slopes of the Mont Ventoux before grabbing a service bike which did not work.

Froome was then given a spare Team Sky bike on which he completed the 178-km stage, losing over a minute to his main rivals, only for the race jury to rule that he would be credited with the same time as the two riders he was with when the incident occurred.

“Chris Froome and Richie Porte have been given the same time as Bauke Mollema due to the incident in the finale. Froome retains the yellow jersey,” organisers said.

BMC rider Porte, who was leading Froome and Dutchman Mollema (Trek Segafredo), crashed into a TV motorbike that was held up by the crowd on the road.

Mollema and Froome also tumbled and the Briton’s bike was broken in the incident.

The overall lead was first handed to Adam Yates before the standings were updated and Froome was handed the yellow jersey.

“I’m very happy with the commissaires’ decision, I think it was the right thing to do, thanks to the jury and thanks to the organisers,” Froome told reporters.

Yates added: “I’m happy with the decision, I would not want to take the jersey like that.”

Yates now trails Froome by 47 seconds.