Vincenzo Nibali wins his fourth Tour de France stage

VINCENZO Nibali has confirmed his supremacy at the Tour de France with his fourth stage victory in the 18th stage from Pau to Hautacam.

Italy's Vincenzo Nibali crosses the finish line to win the eighteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 145.5 kilometers (90.4 miles) with start in Pau and finish in Hautacam, Pyrenees region, France, Thursday, July 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

VINCENZO Nibali confirmed his supremacy at the Tour de France with his fourth stage victory on the 144.5km 18th stage from Pau to Hautacam.

With only three stages left before the finish in Paris, Richie Porte remained the best of the Australians but he dropped from 15th to 20th overall, more than 50min down.

Twenty-nine-year-old Nibali streaked away on the final 13.6km hors category climb to the finish.

“On the last climb I possibly went too soon but I was in good shape,” he said.

“The pace had been fast because I didn’t want to let the breakaway get too far ahead. It was really important for me to win this prestigious stage on the Hautacam.

“I’m really happy I did it and I dedicate it to my team because they worked so hard for me.”

Seemingly the only danger to Nibali, who stretched his overall lead to more than seven minutes, came not from his rivals but from spectators.

On the climb, Nibali hit a woman who stepped out in the road, with her back turned, to try to take a photo.

France’s Jean-Christophe Peraud, right, speaks with Vincenzo Nibali.

The Italian’s shoulder caught the young woman’s arm but the Astana leader was untroubled.

Although he admitted the Tour was as good as won, Nibali said that incident showed he cannot count his chickens just yet.

“I’m very happy with this stage win and certainly I’ve accumulated a healthy advantage so I can remain calm for the next stages and Saturday’s time trial,” he said.

“I caught her but it wasn’t too bad. But this is the Tour de France, it goes very fast and people have to be careful because this can be very dangerous, for her as well as me.”

A large breakaway formed early in the day but it was down to just two riders when it reached the foot of the Hautacam.

Spaniard Mikel Nieve then left French escape companion Blel Kadri and struck out for home.

Spain's Alejandro Valverde, right, Tejay van Garderen of the US, centre, and Netherlands' Bauke Mollema, left.

But with Nibali’s Astana team controlling the peloton, the Spaniard’s lead was down to about 1min 30 sec by that time.

Nibali attacked with around 10km left and soon gobbled up Nieve, after which he rode on alone to a comprehensive victory.

Behind him the true battle for the Tour podium places was firing up.

Thibaut Pinot drove on behind and crossed the line second at 1min 10 sec to move up from third to second overall at 7:10.

Pole Rafal Majka, the winner of two mountain stages, was third at 1:12 to secure victory in the King of the Mountains competition.

Jean-Christophe Peraud made it two Frenchmen on the podium as he came home fourth at 1:15.

France's Thibaut Pinot, wearing the best young rider's white jersey, Vincenzo Nibali, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, and Poland's Rafal Majka, wearing the best climber's dotted jersey.

The 37-year-old is just 13 sec behind Pinot and 2 sec ahead of Alejandro Valverde, who had started the day second.

It means three riders are separated by just 15 sec in the battle for second place, which should be decided on Saturday in the 54km time trial.

Although Pinot, 24, is second, he is widely regarded as the weakest of the three against the clock.

“Peraud knows how to ride time trials and Valverde’s the Spanish time trial champion. There’s only 15 sec between us so you can say we’re as good as starting level,” said Pinot.

American Tejay Van Garderen came home fifth in the same time as Peraud to boost his chances of finishing in the top five overall.

He is sixth and trails 23-year-old Frenchman Romain Bardet by just over two minutes but the American is a far better time triallist.

Richie Porte remains the best of the Australians but he dropped from 15th to 20th overall, more than 50min down.

Originally published as Vincenzo Nibali wins his fourth Tour de France stage