Froome claims fourth title

Chris Froome described it as a “huge honour” to be mentioned in the same breath as Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain after effectively wrapping up a fourth Tour de France triumph in five years yesterday. A day of double celebrations for British Cycling saw the national governing body avoid the potentially catastrophic loss of some £43million in public funding.

Froome needs only finish today’s final stage in Paris to be assured of a victory which will leave him one short of five-time champions Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault and Indurain.

The Team Sky rider, 32, finished third in yesterday’s penultimate day time trial in Marseille to extend his winning margin to 54sec over Rigoberto Uran [Cannondale-Drapac].

France’s Romain Bardet [AG2R], who had started the day 23sec behind Froome, faded to finish third.

Bury-born Simon Yates [Orica-Scott] secured the white jersey for best young rider, 12 months after his twin brother Adam did likewise. Yates finished seventh overall.

Meanwhile, British Cycling’s national council voted through reforms to comply with a new Code for Sports Governance ensuring it will remain eligible for public funding.