Marseille: Chris Froome has secured his fourth Tour de France after a clinical performance over the 22.5-kilometre stage 20 time trial course in Marseille on Saturday.

Froome followed local hero Romain Bardet (AG2R) off the ramp and defied the boos of the French crowds in the stadium and around the streets of Marseille to almost catch Bardet en route back to the velodrome.

With a lead of 54s on Rigoberto Urán (Cannondale-Drapac), the Team Sky rider needs only to survive the largely processional stage to Paris on Sunday to join an elite group of riders with more than three titles. 

Bardet, who retained his podium place at 2min 20s with a margin of just one second over Sky rider Mikel Landa, was roared on by huge crowds but he struggled on the climb towards the Basilica Notre-Dame.

The stage was won by Maciej Bodnar (Bora-Hansgrohe), who covered the 22.5 kilometres in 28min 15s, one second ahead of Sky's Michal Kwiatkowski. Froome was six seconds off the pace.

Providing Froome avoids any calamities on the 103-kilometre ride from Montgeron to the capital, he will take his Tour haul to four in the last five years – one behind cycling greats Miguel Indurain, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Jacques Anquetil.

Froome, 32, will become the first person to win three times in a row since Indurain, who was unbeatable between 1991-95. American Lance Armstrong won every year from 1999 to 2005 but had all seven titles stripped for doping.

Australian Michael Matthew (Sunweb) also avoided accidents and mechanicals to negotiate the time trial course and safeguard the green jersey for the points classification.

He has an unassailable lead in the points competition but will be looking for a win in the sprint finale on the Champs-Élysées on Sunday to add the cream on top. 

Warren Barguil (Subweb) will ride into Paris in the polka dot jersey, while Simon Yates, riding for the Australian Orica-Scott team, secured the white jersey for best young rider. Yates is also placed sixth overall at 6min 14s. 

Fairfax Media with Reuters