Tour de France: Chris Froome moves closer to third title with Stage 18 time trial win

Britain's Chris Froome, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, celebrates on the podium after Stage 18 of the Tour de France. Peter Dejong / AP Photo

MEGEVE, FRANCE // Britain’s Chris Froome put the hammer down in his bid to retain the Tour de France title when he won the 18th stage, a 17-kilometre mountain time trial, to extend his overall lead to almost four minutes on Thursday.

The Team Sky rider, aiming to become the first to retain the title since Miguel Indurain in 1995, clocked a best time of 30 minutes, 43 seconds on a course featuring the punishing Cote de Domancy, a 2.5km climb at an average gradient of 9.4 per cent.

He beat time trial specialist Tom Dumoulin by 21 seconds and Italian Fabio Aru by 33 seconds.

“I really didn’t expect to beat Tom today, pacing was key. I started off steady and really controlled that first part then gave it everything I had,” Froome said.

Dutchman Bauke Mollema, who started the day 2:27 behind Froome in the general classification, lost 1:25 and trails the defending champion by a massive 3:52 going into two final stages in the Alps before Sunday’s parade to the Champs Elysees.

See also:

• The inevitability of a Chris Froome victory is making Tour de France a dull affair

• Tour de France: Chris Froome tightens grip on yellow jersey as Nairo Quintana cracks

Froome’s compatriot Adam Yates is third, 4:16 off the pace, as the race to the podium is set to heat up with at least five riders still in the mix for second place.

Colombian Nairo Quintana, runner-up to Froome in 2013 and 2015, had another tough day in the saddle, losing 1:10. The Movistar rider is fourth overall, 4:37 behind Froome.

On his heels is Frenchman Romain Bardet, 4:57 behind after finishing a surprise fifth on Thursday, while Australian Richie Porte, fourth on Thursday, is sixth three seconds further back.

“I’m happy it’s a good time trial, I’ve got good sensations, it was pleasing. There are still two big stages left. I hope I’ll find a good terrain to attack,” Bardet said.

Froome started cautiously but finished strong to claim his second stage win in this Tour, raising his fist in celebration after crossing the line.

“As always in the time trial the pacing strategy is critical, particularly in one like today where it was very easy, with that first steep ramp, to go out a little bit too hard and pay for it at the end,” said Team Sky manager Dave Brailsford.

“So you have to be brave on a course like that and hold a little bit back to start with so that you can get all your effort out over the course.”

Froome was one of few riders to use both a time trial bike and a rear disc wheel, which played a part.

“We went for a very lightweight TT bike, disc wheels, I think Chris was one of the only riders to do a disc but we spent a lot of time doing the maths and the calculations and it looked like it came out right thankfully,” said Brailsford.

Friday’s 19th stage is a demanding 146km mountain trek with an uphill finish at Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc.

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