Nibali all but seals Tour with stage victory
Print Edition
VINCENZO Nibali proved once again he has no serious rivals in the Tour de France when he powered to victory in the final mountain stage yesterday, all but securing his maiden title in impressive fashion.
The Italian, looking to become the sixth man to win all three grand tours, snatched his fourth stage win by easing away from the group of favorites early in the final ascent to Hautacam, a 13.6-kilometer climb at an average gradient of 7.8 per cent.
France’s Thibaut Pinot was second, 1:10 behind, and Poland’s Rafal Majka finished third two seconds further back to secure the polka dot jersey for the mountain classification.
Pinot is now second overall, 7:10 behind Nibali with another Frenchman, Jean-Christophe Peraud, in third at 7:23 off the pace.
Spain’s Alejandro Valverde could not respond to Pinot’s attack and slipped to fourth overall, 7:25 behind Nibali.
Only a crash or a disaster in tomorrow’s final time trial can prevent Astana rider Nibali from adding to his 2010 Vuelta and 2013 Giro d’Italia titles. Pinot, Peraud and Valverde are likely to fight for the remaining places on the podium in Paris.
Nibali’s only scare in the 18th stage, a 145.5-kilometer trek from Pau, came when he hit a careless spectator who was on the side of the road midway through the final ascent.
France’s Blel Kadri and Spain’s Mikel Nieve were the strongest of the morning’s breakaway and reached the foot of Hautacam with a 1:30 lead on the favorites’ group but it was never going to be enough.
Earlier, Valverde went ahead in the descent from the iconic Col du Tourmalet, looking to catch a couple of teammates to help him in the first slopes of Hautacam.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
