Chris Froome will close on the Tour de France's greatest champions when he rides into Paris on Sunday to clinch his fourth victory in cycling's most prestigious race.
Photo from video
The 32-year-old Briton finished third in Saturday's 22.5km time-trial in Marseille to effectively secure a 54-second overall victory ahead of Colombia's Rigoberto Uran.
Now, only Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain -- all with five wins -- have won more Tours than Froome.
"I'm not much of a person for looking back. Of course to have won it once (in 2013), the novelty was to be a Tour de France winner -- that was massive," he said.
"To come back and try to do it again the second time (in 2015) made it count even more. To do it consecutively last year for the first time - two in a row - was the big drive," said Froome.
"For me now to have done it again, a fourth title, I never dreamed of being up there or even coming close to Eddy Merkcx, Anquetil or Indurain. It's amazing to be in this position, it's such a privilege."
Froome's top rivals Uran and Frenchman Romain Bardet have improved enough to match him in the mountains, but he still retains a significant edge in time-trials.
His winning margin was 54 seconds but he actually gained 1min 16sec with respect to Uran in the two time-trial stages.
It won't just be Froome celebrating on Sunday.
Frenchman Warren Barguil will be crowned king of the mountains, Australia's Michael Matthews top sprinter and Simon Yates of Britain best young rider.
