Despite suffering a worst possible blow during the dramatic cobbled stage yesterday as last year’s Tour de France champion pulled out of competition, Team Sky manager Dave Brailsford insists that Chris Froome will bounce back sooner than expected, very likely in the Vuelta a Espana, and emphasizes one more time that British squad’s chances to defend the title are safe with Richie Porte.

“We really believed in Chris and we really believed he would win this race, but it’s not to be this year," Brailsford told Sky Sports.

“It was all a bit chaotic. It’s just unfortunate for Chris. He has worked ever so hard to be in this shape. I’m sure he will be back. I’m sure we will see him in the Vuelta and we will go from there.”

Hitting the deck three times in only two days, Froome abandoned the race before the peloton hit the cobbles for the first time yesterday. As there were many suggestions that the 29-year old Kenyan-born rider couldn’t handle his bike properly following Tuesday’s accident, Brailsford clarified that Team Sky leader was able to race in the beginning of fifth stage and the first of two crashes made all the damage.

Froome was due to fly home from the race on Wednesday night and will be replaced as Team Sky’s leader by his close friend Richie Porte.

“He was fit to start,” the Team Sky principal said. “He was in a lot of pain, there’s no denying that. [But] the injuries sustained in that crash today, on the other side to yesterday, were the ultimate reason why he pulled out.”

Despite suffering a serious blow, Team Sky principal is convinced that Porte would take over the leadership in the squad as, apart from being Froome’s most reliable lieutenant, the Tasmanian-born rider was expected to target the Tour de France general classification.

"In Richie Porte we have got a very capable guy who can lead the team. He’s in great shape. He has had a slower start to the season than normal but he’s fresh, he’s coming into form at the right time, he’s climbing really well."

“We’ll keep battling on with Richie up there on GC and the fight in the mountains lies ahead. We want to get to those hills as soon as possible.”

Brailsford was also full of praise for mailot jaune Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), who rode an impressive race yesterday to shake off cobbled classics specialists like Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) or Pater Sagan (Cannondale) and to extend his advantage in the general classification.

“It was exciting, wasn’t it?” Brailsford admitted. “It might not have worked out for us, but if you’re a bike fan and watch what Nibali did today, that was pretty impressive.

“Fair play to him. He was unbelievable. To ride away from Cancellara, to ride away from Sagan on the cobbles, that was exciting and we will remember that for a long time.”