Tour de France: Chris Froome surprises himself with stage win to extend his advantage
Chris Froome underlined his dominance in the Tour de France as victory in the stage 18 time trial put him almost four minutes clear in the yellow jersey.
Froome beat Dutch time-trial specialist Tom Dumoulin by 21 seconds, but even more important was the gap back to the rest of the general classification contenders.
The Team Sky rider took one minute and 25 seconds out of Trek-Segafredo's Bauke Mollema to stretch his lead to three minutes and 52 seconds, with two mountain stages left before the traditional parade into Paris.
This was Froome's second stage win of this Tour - and seventh of his career - after he took the yellow jersey with a surprise downhill attack to win stage eight to Bagneres-de-Luchon.
"I really didn't expect to beat Tom today," Froome said.
"I think pacing was key today. I really started off quite steady and really controlled that first part and then just gave it everything I had over the last part.
"Really, really happy with that."
Belfast Telegraph
