Dominant Nibali poised to be crowned in Paris today

Having dominated his rivals on all terrains, Vincenzo Nibali is poised to win the Tour de France as he avoided any late dramas yesterday in the penultimate stage, a 54km time trial from Bergerac won by Germany’s Tony Martin.

The Italian rider finished fourth on the day, nearly two minutes slower than the dominant Martin who set a scorching time of one hour, six minutes and 21 seconds, but will roll into Paris today 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 today’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.”

FDJ.fr rider Pinot, who will also claim the white jersey for the best Under-25 rider ahead of compatriot Romain Bardet, is 8:24 off the pace.

“Near the end I was empty, the last five kilometres felt really long... I’m relieved to have lasted the distance,” said Pinot.

“I have not realised yet, I think it will sink in tomorrow (today).”

Tyre mishap

Peraud started the day in third place overall behind Pinot but was stronger against the clock than his young compatriot and managed to beat him despite suffering a puncture shortly after the halfway point.

His AG2R-La Mondiale team-mate Bardet also punctured two kilometres from the line, losing fifth place overall to American Tejay van Garderen by a mere two seconds.

Spain’s Alejandro Valverde, fourth in the standings, lacked the freshness required in a final grand tour time trial and was never a threat.

Poland’s Rafal Majka, who claimed two mountain stages in this Tour, will take the polka dot jersey for the mountain classification while Slovakian Peter Sagan will claim the green jersey for the points classification by a large margin.

Alessandro De Marchi, of Italy, was voted the most aggressive rider of the race by a panel of journalists and race officials while AG2R-La Mondiale will win the team classification.

Nibali, who won the 2010 Vuelta in Spain 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 who had looked in ominous form coming into the race, also pulled out after a crash 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.

Top ten riders

1. Nibali (Italy) - 86:37:52”
2. Peraud (France) - +7:52”
3. Pinot (France) - +8:24”
4. Valverde (Spain) - +9:55”
5. Van Garderen (US) - +11:44”
6. Bardet (France) - +11:46”
7. Koenig (Czech Rep.) - +14:41”
8. Zubeldia (Spain) - +18:12”
9. Ten Dam (Holland) - +18:20”
10. Mollema (Holland) - +21:24”