Title beckons for Froome

MEGEVE: Chris Froome’s inexorable march towards a third Tour de France title continued apace on Thursday as he won the 18th stage uphill time-trial.

For more than an hour and a half, Dutchman Tom Dumoulin sat in the hot seat as his time of 31min 04sec remained unbeaten.

But, starting last of 179 riders, Froome gauged his effort to perfection to storm through and take the 17km time-trial in a time of 30:43s.

“It’s a great position, it’s a really good feeling to have this kind of advantage coming into the last stages now,” said Froome.

Having been only fifth fastest at the first time-check after 6.5km, Froome got stronger as he went and was a clear winner by 21 seconds.

Italian Fabio Aru took a surprise third place, edging out Richie Porte of Australia by a fraction of a second.

But both gained significant time on those around them and Porte, who started the day two minutes off second place, is now only 1:08s behind Bauke Mollema.

The Dutchman lost 1:25s to Froome but remains second overall at 3:52s.

Yet he was the slowest of the riders placed second through sixth and while Froome has as good as wrapped up overall victory, the fight for a podium finish is set to rage on the next two Alpine stages.

Romain Bardet in fifth also gained significant time on Mollema and young Briton Adam Yates, who is third at 4:16s. AFP