PORTO VECCHIO: Briton Chris Froome destroyed the field to win the final stage and the overall title at the Criterium International as Team Sky completed a dominant one-two on Sunday.
The Tour de France runner-up attacked with 5.5 km remaining on the climb to the Col de l’Ospedale, leaving team mate and then race leader Richie Porte trailing in his wake.
Sky, who have been criticized for their defensive tactics, did not just sit and wait this time as Froome and Porte attacked one after another on the 14.1-km ascent.
Paris-Nice champion Porte, who had snatched the yellow jersey after his victory in Saturday’s 7-km time trial, counter attacked and managed to take second place on the day, 30 seconds behind Froome. Dutch Bauke Mollema was third, 45 seconds off the pace.
Porte finished second overall, 32 seconds adrift of Froome.
“It was more or less what we had planned,” Froome told reporters.
“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.” Froome has made the Tour his main objective after playing second fiddle to Bradley Wiggins in 2012.
He has shown that he has what it takes to lead the British outfit by winning the Tour of Oman as well as finishing second in the Tirreno-Adriatico.
Porte, who won Saturday’s individual time trial to hold the race lead, said he had made an agreement with his teammate before the stage.
Froome wins as Sky take one-two at the Criterium
