The Team Sky rider was fined 200 Swiss francs for lashing out, but is adamant he was taking pre-emptive action to avoid crashing.
"The guy had a big flag and the pole was getting close to my front wheel," said Froome, at his base in the Swiss lake resort of Hilterfingen.
"I just saw red and lashed out. I was worried because he was running alongside me and the pole was getting closer and closer."
Fans were again too close for comfort on the notorious Mont Ventoux climb on Bastille Day, with Froome and two other cyclists crashing into a motorbike near the finish.
A second motorbike then accidentally drove over his bicycle and he was forced to run up the mountain.
Froome had to run after a motorcycle accidentally drove over his bike
"I definitely don't want to ever have to do that again! It was a crazy time.
"I was just determined to get to the finish line and the only option left for me was to run!"
Later that day, a man in a lorry killed 84 people on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice.
"It's horrific," Froome said. "It puts everything into perspective.
"It feels pretty full on and intense here, but when you see something like that, it reminds you that there's a lot more to life."
There are four mountainous stages left in this year's tour before Sunday's traditional procession into the French capital.
Froome holds a healthy advantage over his main rivals, but is taking nothing for granted.
Froome spoke to Sky's Enda Brady during a rest day
"It's one day at a time," said the Kenyan-born British rider.
"I can't look past the next day's racing. I've never put a limit on how many times I want to win this amazing race.
"I'm just so happy to be in yellow right now."
Froome first won the Tour in 2013 and reclaimed the title last summer.
And how does a champion spend his rest day?
"I'm going on a two-hour bike ride with the rest of the guys."
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