Britain’s Chris Froome is set to celebrate his third Tour de France title in four years after safely finishing the penultimate stage to maintain just over a four minute lead over his closest rivals he
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Britain’s Chris Froome is set to celebrate his third Tour de France title in four years after safely finishing the penultimate stage to maintain just over a four minute lead over his closest rivals heading into Sunday’s finale in Paris.
Stage 20 was a 146.5 km trek from Megève to Morzine and was the final mountainous challenge of this year’s race.
In the driving rain some 30 riders broke free to animate the day’s action.
As the race hit the fourth and final climb of the day, the break splintered with Jarlinson Pantano, 2014 Champion Vincenzo Nibali and Ion Izagirre riding clear.
At the top Movistar’s Izagirre made his move and would not be caught again as he masterfully negotiated the descent to take the biggest win of his career.
Froome meanwhile managed to protect his sizeable lead and is now just one processional stage away from joining the elite club of three time Tour de France winners.
He is four minutes and five seconds clear of Frenchman Romain Bardet in the GC, while Colombia’s Nairo Quintana is third overall a further 16 seconds adrift.
Le jaune est la couleur de
chrisfroome</a> ! Yellow is <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisfroome">chrisfroome colour! #TDF2016 pic.twitter.com/yTNCGCfqDF— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) July 23, 2016
Nouveau TOP 10 / New TOP 10.
1️⃣chrisfroome</a> <br>2️⃣ <a href="https://twitter.com/romainbardet">romainbardet
3️⃣NairoQuinCo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TDF2016?src=hash">#TDF2016</a> <a href="https://t.co/2mula0HEVX">pic.twitter.com/2mula0HEVX</a></p>— Le Tour de France (LeTour) July 23, 2016