With each passing day it is becoming harder to see anyone but Chris Froome winning the 2016 Tour de France.
The two-time winner moved closer to a third title yesterday as his rivals wilted on the climb to the Finhaut-Emosson in Switzerland at the end of stage 17.
Bauke Mollema remains second overall but the Trek-Segafredo rider conceded 40 seconds on a stage won by Katusha's Ilnur Zakarin to drop to two minutes and 27 seconds back.
The even bigger surprise came from Nairo Quintana. Colombia's national day was supposed to inspire the Movistar man to make his long-awaited move but instead he had no response as Froome sped up to join Richie Porte's attack two kilometres from the end of the 184.5km stage from Berne.
Quintana remains fourth behind 23-year-old Briton Adam Yates, but has now seen his deficit to yellow grow to three minutes 27 seconds, and after the stage he already sounded like a man who had conceded defeat in this year's Tour.
"I still have a lot of years," Quintana said. "I am 26, and there are a lot of people ahead of me who have more experience. I still have a lot of years ahead of me to fight for the yellow jersey dream."
Quintana has been the man who has come on strong in the third week of Grand Tours and who was expected to come back at Froome in the final few days.
That could yet happen - there are still three tough days ahead in the Alps before the traditional parade into Paris - but Thursday's time trial should favour Froome and all the evidence so far suggests it is he who is becoming stronger by the day.
"It's been a very difficult Tour for Nairo," Froome said. "He's still a great rival and a big challenger for me but he lost more time today. I think for him to re-enter into the game again he's going to have to do a really good time trial."
The 31-year-old Froome, winner of the 2013 and 2015 Tours, changed his preparations this year in a bid to be at his best later in the race, having been put on the defensive in the final stages of his previous wins.
"I've got to say I'm feeling better than I've ever felt in the third week of a Grand Tour before," Froome said. "I'm on track for that. I feel as if I am in a good place."
Team Sky have become masters at managing their resources in the Tour, and Froome looks and sounds like a man who has it all figured out.
Though he joined Porte's attack he never did a turn on the front, content in the knowledge that he was gaining enough time as it was without the need to expend extra energy before Thursday's mountain time trial from Sallanches to Megeve.
"I don't think it was possible to go much faster there, Richie seemed to be doing just fine on his own," Froome said. "Tactically for me there is really no need to get on the front and start pulling on the final.
"Tomorrow is going to be crucial and this is the first day of a four-day block (in the Alps)."
Source: PA-WIRE
