Froome untouchable in time trial as he extends Vuelta a España lead

BRITAIN’S Chris Froome remains on course to be the first man to win both the Tour de France and Vuelta a España in a single season since 1978.

The 32-year-old Team Sky rider dominated the stage 16 time trial to leave him almost two minutes ahead of his nearest rival, the Italian Vincenzo Nibali.

He picked up his second stage victory of this year’s race, with only one of his rivals, Dutch Team Sunweb rider Wilco Kelderman, within 30 seconds of the four-time Tour winner.

Following tomorrow’s stage 17, a 180.5-kilometre run from Villadiego in Burgos to Los Machucos in Cantabria, there are just four stages remaining.

In the wake of Froome’s win, Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford said: “The course suited him [Froome] but you still have to time it well and he showed again why he is considered to be one of the world’s best time triallists today.

“But there are still some really hard stages coming up, the climbs are so steep and intense that there is no time to relax. It’s a difficult day tomorrow, and for the guys who went full today, we’ll see how that impacts on them.”