Nibali poised to be crowned in Paris, Martin wins time trial
PERIGUEUX: Having dominated his rivals on all terrains, Vincenzo Nibali was poised to win the Tour de France as he avoided any late dramas on Saturday in the penultimate stage, a 54km time trial from Bergerac won by Germany’s Tony Martin.
The Italian finished fourth on the day, nearly two minutes slower than the dominant Martin who set a time of one hour six minutes 21 seconds, but will roll into Paris on Sunday with a seven minute 52 second lead.
France’s Jean-Christophe Peraud climbed to second overall ahead of compatriot Thibaut Pinot as France is set to have two riders on the podium for the first time since Laurent Fignon and Bernard Hinault finished first and second in 1984.
Nibali will become the sixth man to win all three grand tours barring a race-ending crash in Sunday’s processional final stage which ends on the Champs Elysees, and the first Italian since the late Marco Pantani in 1998.
“It was not an easy time trial, it required a lot of power,” said Astana rider Nibali, who has won four stages and has worn the yellow jersey for most of the race since snatching it on the second day in Sheffield. “I never thought about that (becoming the first Italian to win since Pantani), I’m not sure I have realised yet.”
Nibali, who won the 2010 Vuelta and last year’s Giro d’Italia, has surrendered the yellow jersey only for one day since taking it as his main rivals crashed out.
Briton Chris Froome, the 2013 champion, abandoned on the fifth stage while Spain’s Alberto Contador, the 2007 and 2009 champion, crashed out in the 10th stage.
Before Nibali, only Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault, Italy’s Felice Gimondi, Belgian Eddy Merckx and Contador had won the Tour, the Giro and the Vuelta.