Le Puy-en-Velay: Chris Froome survived an attempted coup by Romain Bardet's AG2R-La Mondiale team in a treacherous 15th stage to retain the Tour de France overall leader's yellow jersey on Sunday.

Dutchman Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), the strongest and smartest of the breakaway riders, won the 189.5-kilometre stage from Laissac-Severac L'Eglise but the action was elsewhere.

Defending champion Froome was first caught at the end of a split caused by French team AG2R-La Mondiale, who continued to press the pedals when the race leader suffered a mechanical problem shortly before the key climb of the day.

The Team Sky leader kept his cool, however, and powered his way back to stay on top of the general classification with an 18-second advantage over Italian Fabio Aru (Astana).

Bardet, who enjoyed huge crowd support in his home region in the Massif Central, stays third 23 seconds off the pace. Colombian Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac) is fourth six seconds further back.

A week after Aru had attacked just as he suffered a mechanical problem, Froome again had trouble with his bike and, as the race was on, none of the main contenders waited for him.

AG2R-La Mondiale accelerated at the front of the peloton with some 45 kilometres left and Froome was caught on the wrong side of the split.

Froome suffered a mechanical problem and was assisted by teammate Michal Kwiatkowski. Mikel Nieve and Vasil Kiryienka pulled Froome as they trailed Bardet's group, which contained Aru and Uran, by 45 seconds.

The Briton made up the time on the ascent of the Col de Peyra Taillade, an 8.3-kilometre climb at an average gradient of 7.4 per cent.

Bardet and Aru jumped away on the climb but were easily reined in.

Ireland's Dan Martin (Quick-Step Floors) pedalled away on a flat section after the descent to pull 12 seconds back on Froome and the other favourites.

Orica-Scott's British rider Simon Yates retained the white jersey for the Australian team as best young rider.

Reuters