Froome defends yellow jersey in Tour de France Stage 19

SAINT-GERVAIS-LES-BAINS, France (AP) Tour de France leader Chris Froome remained cautious about his widely-expected victory as the peloton set out Friday for a nervy 146-kilometer (91-mile) ride that features four ascents in the Alps.

The second half of the Stage 19 route from Albertville to Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc is particularly difficult, featuring the Montee de Bisanne, a 12.4-kilometer ascent with an average gradient of 8.2 percent, before a brutal final climb to Le Bettex.

Froome, who leads second-placed Bauke Mollema by 3 minutes and 52 seconds after winning Thursday's time trial, said at the start: ''There are two more days to go, this is not over.''

Adam Yates, who holds the white jersey for the best young rider, trails 4:16 behind in third place, with Colombian climber Nairo Quintana lagging 4:37 back.