Nibali wins 18th tour de France leg, ensuring overall win

Sicilian rider seeking to complete grand tour titles set

(ANSA) - Rome, July 24 - Sicilian cyclist Vincenzo Nibali easily won the 18th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday, a 145.5-km stretch from Pau to Hautacam.

His fourth-stage victory confirmed his domination of the Tour and evidently ensured that he will be the overall winner with three more days of racing to go. Nibali, 29, broke out from the leading pack of riders some 8 kms before the finish line to streak through the final gruelling uphill stretch at the Grande Boucle.

Frenchman Thibaut Pinot came in second at 1 minute and 15 seconds behind the Italian, while Polish rider Rafal Majka finished third. Nibali is seeking to complete his set of grand tour titles after winning the Vuelta a Espana in 2010 and the Giro di Italia last year.