Stage 12 | Montpellier to Mont Ventoux | Tour de France 2016

There was drama on Mont Ventoux, one of the most iconic mountains the Tour de France visits, but it was not the sort of drama anyone could have predicted.

The 12th stage from Montpellier to the Giant of Provence had been shortened by six kilometres because of high winds on top of the mountain and the finish line was moved down to Chalet Reynard.

But that had an unintended consequence because all the fans who had travelled up to the top of the mountain early in the week to secure a prime vantage point had to move down and the makeshift finish meant that crowd barriers were not as extensive as would usually be the case.

In the final kilometre, as Chris Froome, Richie Porte and Bauke Mollema were racing away from the other overall contenders, there was a collision with a motorbike, spectators and the three riders which sent them flying. Froome picked himself up and could not find his bike and so there was the bizarre sight of the yellow jersey wearer running up the road.

Eventually he got a bike from the neutral service car before he finally got a replacement bike from his team. He crossed the line behind his main rivals and, for a while, it looked like Adam Yates had taken the yellow jersey. But the race jury decided because of the freak nature of the incident Froome should not lose out and so the times for the stage were taken at the point of the collision – which meant the Sky rider actually extended his advantage.

In this episode of The Telegraph Cycling Podcast, Richard Moore and Lionel Birnie, who were at Chalet Reynard, try to explain what happened and sort through the fall-out from one of the most dramatic days in Tour history. We hear from Richie Porte, Geraint Thomas, Dave Brailsford and Alastair Campbell.

The Telegraph Cycling Podcast is supported by Rapha and Eurosport.