Froome: Nibali's attacks weren't going anywhere

Sky had the Tour de France's 16th stage to Bagnères-de-Luchon under control, according to Chris Froome. He said that he and race leader, Bradley Wiggins were comfortable despite Vincenzo Nibali's attackers.

"Worried? Not really, to be honest," Froome said. "Yeah, it was hard at the end of a long day, it hurts, but Brad and I both know they [Nibali's attacks] weren't really going anywhere. We were quite within ourselves there at the end."

Froome spoke to a group of five journalists after cooling down on the bus. He helped Wiggins come one step closer to winning the Tour in Paris on Sunday.

He brought back Nibali after two attacks with around three kilometres to race up the Col de Peyresourde. The third attack, through a tunnel of fans, Wiggins pulled back.

Team Principal David Brailsford was impressed with the effort, which sets up the team for first and second in Paris.

"Look at him [Froome], he's as fresh as a daisy," Brailsford said. "Like a Sunday clubber."

Some experts said that if Nibali of team Liquigas-Cannondale failed to gain time today over Wiggins then he would be unable to win the Tour. He trails Wiggins by 2-23 minutes.

"We were very comfortable there. I don't think he was really going anywhere," Froome added. "I mean it's great that he was able to put in those moves, but I he was only getting 50 metres or so, and then we were bringing him back."

"We saw at the end, it was just down to three, there's not many people left in the race," Wiggins explained. "I'm just glad we passed the test as a team... It was tough going out there."

The trio moved clear of their rivals. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Lotto-Belisol) and Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing) placed in a group 58 seconds back. Defending champion, Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) was nearly five minutes back.

Nibali now sits safe in third overall by just over three minutes on Van den Broeck.

"He's in a good position," Froome said. "He's obviously now securing his third position a lot better by having dropped a lot of the other favourites. So, it was in our interest to work together and just keep it going."

Froome must help Wiggins defend in one more key mountain stage, tomorrow's summit finish to Peyragudes.

"Sky was too strong today," Nibali said. "I'm aiming for the podium. I'd still like to win the stage tomorrow, but it's getting too hard to open the door."

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Tour de France 2012: Teams, riders, start list

Tour 2012: Who will win?

Tour de France 2012 start list and withdrawals

Tour de France 2012 team list

Tour de France 2012: Stage reports

Stage 16: Voeckler the Pyrenean king as he wins in Bagneres de Luchon

Stage 15: Fedrigo wins, day off for peloton

Stage 14: Sanchez solos to Foix victory to save Rabobank's Tour

Stage 13: Greipel survives climb and crosswinds to win third Tour stage

Stage 12: Millar wins Tour stage nine years from his last

Stage 11: Wiggins strengthens Tour lead as Evans slips back

Stage 10: Voeckler wins and saves his Tour

Stage nine: Wiggins destroys opposition in Besancon TT

Stage eight: Pinot solos to Tour win as Wiggins fights off attacks

Stage seven: Wiggins takes yellow as Froome wins stage

Stage six: Sagan wins third Tour stage

Stage five: Greipel wins again as Cavendish fades

Stage four: Greipel wins stage after Cavendish crashes

Stage three: Sagan runs away with it in Boulogne

Stage two: Cavendish takes 21st Tour stage victory

Stage one: Sagan wins at first attempt

Prologue: Cancellara wins, Wiggins second

Tour de France 2012: Comment, analysis, blogs

Analysis: What we learned at La Planche des Belles Filles

Analysis: How much time could Wiggins gain in Tour's time trials

CW's Tour de France podcasts

Blog: Tour presentation - chasing dreams and autographs

Comment: Cavendish the climber

Tour de France 2012: Photo galleries

Stage 16 by Graham Watson

Stage 15 by Graham Watson

Stage 14 by Graham Watson

Stage 13 by Graham Watson

Stage 12 by Graham Watson

Stage 11 by Graham Watson

Stage 10 by Graham Watson

Stage nine by Graham Watson

Stage eight by Graham Watson

Stage seven by Graham Watson

Stage six by Graham Watson

Stage five by Graham Watson

Stage four by Graham Watson

Stage three by Graham Watson

Stage two by Andy Jones

Stage two by Graham Watson

Stage one by Graham Watson

Prologue photo gallery by Andy Jones

Prologue photo gallery by Roo Rowler

Prologue photo gallery by Graham Watson

Tour de France 2012: Team presentation

Sky and Rabobank Tour de France recce

Tour de France 2012: Live text coverage

Stage 10 live coverage

Stage nine live coverage

Stage six live coverage

Stage five live coverage

Stage four live coverage

Stage three live coverage

Cycling Weekly's live text coverage schedule

Tour de France 2012: TV schedule

ITV4 live schedule

British Eurosport live schedule

Tour de France 2012: Related links

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish

Brief history of the Tour de France

Tour de France 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

1989: The Greatest Tour de France ever