ROME: Chris Froome is set to become the first Briton to win the Giro d’Italia after seeing off a late surge by defending champion Tom Dumoulin on Saturday’s 20th stage to increase his lead to 46 seconds ahead of Sunday’s finale. Barring a late calamity on the final stage in Rome, which is traditionally a procession, the Team Sky rider will celebrate victory and add the one Grand Tour missing from his collection. Froome, who is still under investigation over an adverse doping test result, became the first British winner of the Vuelta a Espana last year and the third man to complete the Tour de France-Vuelta double in the same year. “Just incredible feelings, quite emotional,” Froome, who was barely in contention before a remarkable turnaround on Friday’s 19th stage, said. “It has been such a brutal race but I have to say, it has been a beautiful, beautiful event. “There were attacks I had to follow in the final, but I felt in control and capable of following today… everyone had such a hard day yesterday no one really had the legs to go anywhere.” Victory on the Giro will see the 33-year-old emulate Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault, the only riders to have won three Grand Tours in succession. Despite his feats, Froome is under investigation by world cycling’s governing body UCI over an adverse doping test result after a urine sample showed excessive levels of an asthma medication at last year’s Vuelta. He has denied any wrongdoing. Mikel Nieve celebrated his 34th birthday in style by winning Saturday’s stage – a 214km ride from Susa to Cervinia. The Spaniard attacked with just over 30km to go and finished two minutes and 17 seconds ahead of Dutchman Robert Gesink. Froome began the day 40 seconds ahead of Dumoulin after Friday’s heroics and maintained a healthy pace throughout before switching gears towards the end as the Dutchman mounted a late charge. He finished the stage seventh. Froome’s closest competitor and last year’s winner Dumoulin reflected on the difficulty of the stage. “This has been the toughest stage so far, I’m happy with my second place. I did everything right… I’m not the best climber.” Frenchman Thibaut Pinot, who was third overall at the start of the stage, saw his chances of a podium finish end at the second climb up Col de St-Pantaleon where he struggled. Published in Daily Times, May 27th 2018.