Chris Froome
is set to become the first Briton to win the Tour de France twice after
surviving a thrilling attack by Nairo Quintana on Alpe d'Huez.
Team Sky's Froome, 30, led Quintana by two minutes 38 seconds before the penultimate stage but the Colombian rode clear with 9km remaining.
However, the Briton responded to limit his losses to just 80 seconds as France's Thibaut Pinot won the stage.
His 72-second lead will not be challenged on Sunday's finale in Paris.
The short 21st stage, which culminates in several laps around the centre of Paris, is expected to end in a bunch sprint on the Champs-Elysees and Froome has only to cross the finish line within 72 seconds of Quintana to be crowned champion.
Quintana once again will finish runner-up to Froome, as he did two years ago, although this is set to be the smallest winning margin since Carlos Sastre beat Cadel Evans by 58 seconds in 2008.
"It's hard to say if this was harder than 2013, but every day was flat out," said Froome.
"Next year I'll come back and renew the rivalry with Nairo. He's a great prospect, has a bright future, a great talent who races correctly, making his race at the right moment."
Froome's rival attacks
Nairo Quintana will finish runner-up at
the Tour for a second time
Quintana had been expected to attack on the iconic 13.9km ascent of Alpe d'Huez, which features 21 hairpin turns, and the diminutive Movistar rider did not disappoint.
"I gave it everything," said the 25-year-old, who will win the white jersey as best young rider.
"I lost the Tour in the first week when my team struggled with crashes. I lost a minute-and-a-half and that's what cost me the Tour."
He made his move around 9km from the summit to set up an exciting finish to the decisive stage.
Froome did not initially respond, instead keeping pace with his team-mates Richie Porte and Wouter Poels to ride at a more even pace.
Quintana caught and passed Ryder Hesjedal, who finished third, on the ascent and crossed the finish line just 18 seconds behind Pinot to earn six bonus seconds.
However, Froome, who rode the final couple of kilometres on his own after Porte and Poels dropped away, powered over the line to ensure he would regain the title he first won in 2013.
He finished a fraction behind Quintana's Movistar team-mate Alejandro Valverde, who will take third overall, five minutes 25 seconds behind Froome.
Pinot, who finished third overall in 2014, pulled clear for his first stage win of this year's race.
Froome spat at again
Chris Froome battled through the
boisterous crowds on Alpe d'Huez
Froome appeared to be spat at for the second time in as many days, after a similar incident on Friday.
This time it occurred on the narrowing roads towards the summit of Alpe d'Huez and, as opposed to Friday, Froome seemed to be aware he was spat at as he immediately turned around to look at the crowd.
Froome also claims he had urine thrown over him on stage 14 and team-mate Porte says he was punched during stage 10.
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