ARGELES-GAZOST, France -- Vincenzo Nibali crushed everyone on the last mountain leg of the Tour de France on Thursday, all but ensuring he will be crowned champion when the race ends in Paris in three days. Seth Joyner Eagles Jersey . On the big, final climb of Stage 18, the Italian broke out of the peloton, chased down breakaway riders, and rode solo in front for the last eight kilometres (five miles) uphill. Nibali, who captured his fourth stage of the Tour, stuck out his tongue, tapped his chest, and raised a fist skyward as he finished the 145.5-kilometre (90-mile) leg more than a minute ahead of Thibaut Pinot of France, who was second. Rafal Majka of Poland, in third, was another two seconds back. The remarkable effort by Nibali, set to become the first Italian to win the Tour since Marco Pantani in 1998, essentially reduced the race drama to who will join him on the podium on the Champs-Elysees on Sunday. "I didnt want to lose command. My goal was to win here," Nibali said. "It was important to me to win another stage in the Pyrenees. The team worked really hard and this victory is for them." He is also set to become only the sixth rider to win all three Grand Tours of France, Italy and Spain. He won the 2013 Italian Giro and the 2010 Spanish Vuelta. One man basking at the finish line was Alexandre Vinokourov, the general manager of Nibalis Astana team, and a former rider who was expelled from the 2007 Tour for blood doping. He said the stage victory was "not by chance." "We said, we need to show that theres a boss," Vinokourov told French TV. The last time the term "boss" was used regularly at the Tour was when a doped-up Lance Armstrong won seven in a row. While three stages are left, Fridays is mostly flat and unlikely to allow a breakaway rider to gain time. The last real challenge will be Saturdays individual time trial, but Nibalis lead is so big -- 7 minutes, 10 seconds ahead of Pinot, and 7:23 ahead of Frances Jean-Christophe Peraud -- that it would take a disaster for him to lose the yellow jersey before Sunday. "It was a very good day," said Pinot, who rose a spot from third, "but Nibali is untouchable." The race for second heated up: Alejandro Valverde of Spain lost crucial seconds on the last climb and fell from second overall to fourth, two seconds slower than Peraud. But Valverde is considered a stronger time-trial rider than Pinot, and possibly Peraud. "Everything is possible," Valverde said. "Before, I was ahead, now Im behind, but its very tight. Im pretty happy." After setting off from Pau, riders tackled the famed Tourmalet pass -- the highest Pyrenean peak on this Tour -- before heading up to Hautacam ski station. Both climbs are among the toughest in professional cycling. Two breakaway riders, Mikel Nieve of Spain and Blel Kadri, a Frenchman who won Stage 8, were the first over Tourmalet more than 4 1/2 minutes ahead. But by the valley below, the duo had lost two minutes: Nibalis chasing bunch was gaining. That was partly because Valverdes Movistar squad bolted ahead in a challenge to Nibali. The Italian didnt let that last long, and Valverde was caught within a few minutes. By the foot of Hautacam, the main contenders were bunched together. Then, American Chris Horner, who beat second-place Nibali in the Vuelta last year, broke away. Nibali stayed with him, and then, rounding a curve and looking back for the peloton, burst ahead. Nibali said later he had memories of Horners Vuelta victory in mind. That said, Horner was little threat for the Tour title: He was about 35 minutes behind when the stage began. On the way up, Nibalis shoulder whacked the outstretched elbow of a woman speaking on a mobile phone on the side of road, with her back to the peloton. He winced briefly. "Happily, it wasnt serious for her or me," Nibali said. Stage 19 on Friday in southwestern France will likely end in a sprint finish, and Nibali and his Astana teammates will keep a close watch on the riders closest to him in the general classification. They are no longer rivals, nor challengers. Reggie White Womens Jersey . Didnt need any help this time. Wood beat Cincinnati for the first time in his career, repeatedly pitching out of threats for seven innings, and Chicago stalled the Reds week-long surge with a 2-0 victory Monday night. JJ Arcega-Whiteside Eagles Jersey . The Yankees made the moves before Tuesdays game against Baltimore. Robertson was listed retroactive to Monday. Robertson posted two saves in three games as the replacement for retired Yankees closer Mariano Rivera before getting hurt. http://www.theeaglesshoponline.com/Youth-Nick-Foles-Eagles-Jersey/ . Matt Carkner got back into the Ottawa lineup, and made his presence felt right away by settling his clubs score in a one-sided fight with Rangers forward Brian Boyle.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Clippers will take their seven-game winning streak into a Monday night matchup with Pacific Division rivals, the Phoenix Suns, at Staples Center. The Clippers havent lost since a road setback against the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 23. Since, LA has rattled off three straight home wins and Mondays tilt with the Suns will close a four-game homestand. The Clippers head east for three games against the Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards and Milwaukee Bucks. On Saturday, the Clippers handled Anthony Davis as best they could and walked out of the Staples Center with a 120-100 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Davis finished with 26 points for the Pelicans, but Blake Griffin stuffed the stat sheet with 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Griffin went over 7,000 points for his career on Saturday. He came into the game needing 12 to hit the mark. We feel very comfortable right now, he said. Guys are making the right plays. J.J. Redick made five 3-pointers en route to 21 points for the Clippers, who have won nine of their last 10. Jamal Crawford tallied 20 points and Chris Paul donated 18 points and 16 assists. The Suns will finish a tough three-game road trip on Monday. Thus far, Phoenix is 1-1 with an impressive win over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, and a 100-95 loss to the Houston Rockets. Wes Hopkins Youth Jersey. Phoenix received 23 points from Eric Bledsoe and 16 from sixth man Gerald Green, but couldnt overcome a slow start and build off Fridays 118-106 win at Dallas. We didnt come out with the energy. I dont know why, Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek said. They played a back-to-back, too. Were just as young as they are. That shouldnt have been an excuse. Its something weve got to figure out with our guys. We told them in the locker room thats the been the fourth or fifth time that weve had to say that this year -- that you have to come ready to play. Thats on them to be mentally prepared for the game. P.J. Tucker added 15 for the Suns and Goran Dragic contributed 13 points and six assists. The Morris twins - Markieff and Marcus - struggled versus the Rockets. They combined for 10 points on 4-for-23 shooting. The Suns return home on Tuesday to face the Miami Heat, then welcome the Detroit Pistons to Phoenix on Friday. The Clippers bested the Suns on Nov. 15 at Staples Center and have taken four straight meetings. LA has taken five of the last six as host in this series. ' ' '