Chris Froome wins Critérium du Dauphiné after stunning eighth stage victory

Team Sky rider Chris Froome warned up for July's Tour de France by storming to victory in the Critérium du Dauphiné.

The Briton trailed leader Tejay van Garderen by 18 seconds heading into the eighth and final stage.

Froome's team set the pace for much of the stage before he powered away from the American in the last 4km to claim a second straight stage victory and the yellow jersey.

"I can't believe it," the 2013 Tour de France champion said. "I couldn't have expected to win today. The legs were really tired and the whole team were suffering after the work they did yesterday.

"The whole team lifted themselves today and we had the yellow jersey in our sights. Everyone was riding and giving everything. Ian Standard, I don't know how he did what he did today.

"The rest of my teammates were fantastic right up until the last month when I could attack and put pressure on TeJay.

"Up until now I've been looking at the end of the Dauphiné but obviously the Tour de France is the big objective and I think the team is ready.

"I am almost ready, we're less than three weeks away now and I am really looking forward to it."