LA TOUSSUIRE, France — Chris Froome has one more mountainous hurdle to overcome to claim a second Tour de France title after Friday’s 19th stage in which had 30 seconds chopped off his lead as Vincenzo Nibali claimed a controversial victory.
Froome, who was spat at by a spectator, still retains a comfortable advantage with one more testing day in the Alps ahead before the final procession into Paris.
The Briton leads by 2:38 from Colombian Nairo Quintana, who attacked the Team Sky rider in a gripping finale to finish second.
Spain’s Alejandro Valverde, who finished 2:26 off the pace among a group that included several of the race’s top 10, remains third, 5:25 behind Froome.
It was Nibali, however, who drew the Froome’s ire.
The Italian, who had dropped out of contention in the race after a tough first week and a bad first day in the Pyrenees, broke away from a group of top riders 61 kilometers from the finish.
The break, however, came just as Froome suffered a mechanical issue, triggering an angry reaction from him.
On his way to victory, Nibali caught and dropped Frenchman Pierre Rolland in the final climb, an 18-kilometer ascent to the ski resort of La Toussuire at an average gradient of 6.1 percent.
The Astana rider crossed the line 44 seconds ahead of Quintana, who also attacked Froome with about six kilometers remaining, finishing 30 seconds ahead of him
Nibali made his move six kilometers from the top of the gruelling ascent to the col de la Croix de Fer.
“I’m pretty sure he looked around, saw I was in trouble, and attacked,” said Froome, who went to Nibali after the finish and “told him exactly what (he) thought of him”.
Some riders believe the wearer of the yellow jersey should not be attacked if he suffers a mechanical problem or a crash and Froome clearly agrees.
“In my opinion you don’t do that to the race leader,” he added.
It was another testing day for Froome who was spat at by a spectator after having urine thrown at him last week.
“It’s appalling behavior,” said Froome, who did not see the incident but was told by journalists.
The attacks on Froome began early on in the stage.
Alberto Contador and Valverde managed to join a breakaway group in the first climb of the day, the demanding col du Chaussy.
They were reined in just before the top but Froome had to make use of his teammates’ support earlier than expected.
Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas, who began the day sitting fourth overall, paid dearly for his efforts, cracking later in the stage.
He is now 15th after losing more than 20 minutes.
Froome has one more day in the mountains on Saturday’s last competitive stage, which ends with the 21 hairpins of the infamous L’Alpe d’Huez.