Canada’s Francois Parisien claimed the stage win but Martin’s ninth placing ensured he increased the gap over closest challenger Joaquim Rodriguez by four seconds.

Wiggins and Nairo Quintana were nine seconds off the pace, after they had opted to stay out of trouble at the end only to see Martin take his chances to increase his lead.

Fourth-placed Wiggins will therefore head into tomorrow’s penultimate stage 44secs behind his Irish rival, with Quintana two seconds better off.

Parisien won the 156-kilometre stage, from Rialp to Lleida, after he sprinted past Stephane Poulhies in the final 75m. The race finishes in Barcelona on Sunday.