CHRIS FROOME is set to complete the slam of holding the three Grand Tours titles by taking victory in the Giro d’Italia.
Froome held off lates attacks from rival Tom Dumoulin to secure the lead at the end penultimate stage.
The Team Sky rider now needs to complete the final stage procession to clinch the title and take his place in this record books as one of the greatest cyclists in history.
Froome, 33, will add the Giro to his Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana titles – only the seventh person in history to win all three Grand Tours races.
The four-time Tour de France champion takes a 40-second lead over Dumoulin into Sunday’s ceremonial finish in Rome.
In winning his third consecutive Grand Tours, Froome will match the achievements of cycling greats Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault.
Dumoulin attacked Froome multiple continually on the finishing climb of the 133-mile stage from Susa to Cervinia.
But despite making five attempts in total, he was unable to break the will of British star Froome.
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After Dumoulin’s fifth attack, Froome responded with an acceleration of his own and dropped Dumoulin briefly.
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Spanish rider Mikel Nieve of the Mitchelton-Scott team won the stage with a long, solo breakaway to celebrate his 34th birthday.
The final stage tomorrow is a flat 71-mile leg, made up of ten laps around a circuit through the centre of Rome.
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