Stage 11 of the 2022 Tour de France was a dramatic affair, with yellow jersey rider Tadej Pogachar's crash on the Col de Granon sending shockwaves through the race. But at least one rider saw it all coming.

Chris Froome revealed Wednesday morning that he confidently told his Israeli Premier Tech teammates that the Slovenian, a two-time Tour winner, would not be in the yellow jersey today.

Pogachar had been dominant, winning two stage victories in the first 10 stages, just as he did in winning the title last year, but four-time champion Froome felt that he would be overwhelmed by the overall strength of Jonas Vingegaard and especially Jumbo Visma.

"It's very interesting. Yesterday it was definitely going to happen," said Froome at the start of stage 12 on Thursday.

"I actually said to all my teammates at the start, 'I have no doubt that Visma will take the yellow jersey tonight.'"

In an interview with ITV, Froome suggested that Pogachar's "punchy engine" is susceptible to long-distance aggressive tactics in the high mountains. But he also stressed the possibility of tactical errors on the part of the Slovenians.

"He may have gone a little overboard on the pitons. He dragged Jonas on the Galibier, when he didn't necessarily have to ....... I can keep up with him when he's in yellow and I have the right to defend him. I can follow you when you are in yellow and I have the right to defend you.

After attacking Pogachar at the Col du Telegraph and the Col du Galibier, Vingegaard took off at the Col du Granon and Pogachar stalled as he had rarely failed in his career.

As for what this means for the Tour, Froome again pointed to the overall strength of Jumbo-Visma and predicted a more controlled race in the future. Nevertheless, he suggested that Pogachar would not be silenced, as they would have an immediate chance to fight back on the road to L'Alpe d'Huez on Thursday and then the Pyrenees in the final week.

"They [Jumbo Visma] seem to have a very tight grip on this race," Froome said. 'They have a strong team and still have a whole team left.' They have a strong team and still have the whole team left...The GC battle will be ongoing today, but Visma will be easier to control than the UAE."

"I don't think Pogacar is the kind of person to give up," added Froome.

"But whether that is today or week three, we will have to see."

Froome is still struggling to regain the form that seems to have deserted him since his career-threatening crash in 2019. He admits that Alpe d'Huez is not his happiest memory, nearly losing the Tour in 2015 and seeing teammate Geraint Thomas take the decisive lead in 2018.

"Today is an incredibly important day in Bastille, and finishing in Alpe d'Huez makes it an incredibly exciting stage.

"My relationship with the Alpe d'Huez has not been the best over the years. I have often struggled on the slopes of the Alpe d'Huez. I would like to change that if possible."