• Cycling

Froome claims Criterium triumph

ESPN staff
March 24, 2013
Chris Froome has added a second major victory to his name © Getty Images
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Chris Froome has become the first Briton in 17 years to triumph at the Criterium International after winning the final stage of the Col de l'Ospedale

Chris Boardman in 1996 was the only previous British rider to win the event. Froome collected the victory after finishing above his Team Sky team-mate Richie Porte, who was the leader by a couple of seconds heading into the final stage.

Froome - who sealed second spot in last year's Tour de France behind champion Bradley Wiggins - managed to finish 27 seconds ahead of Porte after setting off on a solo breakaway up the last climb. The 27-year-old adds to his one and only major triumph having won the Tour of Oman in February.

"It was more or less what we had planned," Froome said. "The idea was to control the race all day. It was a huge task and we really put the pressure on the others. I did not plan to attack in the climb but there was a gap between Richie and me and I felt I could go, so I went.

"This race helped me see how I could trust my team with the Tour de France in mind."

Meanwhile, at the Tour of Catalonia, Wiggins could only manage fifth place and finish 54 seconds behind Dan Martin, who becomes the second Irishman after Sean Kelly to become champion.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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