Cycling: Chris Froome in sight of victory on the Critérium du Dauphiné

Chris Froome’s measured ride in yesterday’s stage keeps him on track to win the Critérium du Dauphiné (AP)

Team Sky's Chris Froome will take a 51-second lead into the final day of the Critérium du Dauphiné today after a superbly measured performance on stage seven.

Spain's Samuel Sanchez sprinted clear of Denmark's Jakob Fuglsang in the last 200 metres to take the stage victory, with Froome's team-mate Richie Porte jumping away from the yellow-jersey group to claim third.

Froome finished seventh on the 187.5km stage, but close enough to Porte to lose just one second to the Australian, who remains second in the general classification. Australian Michael Rogers (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) is 1min 37sec behind Froome in third.

Sanchez (Euskaltel Euskadi) attacked on the penultimate climb, holding a slender advantage over the top before being joined by Fuglsang (Astana) on the descent.

Nine riders gave chase but then seemed content to hold station and allow Sanchez and Fuglsang to battle it out. The race concludes today with a 155.5km stage from Sisteron to Risoul.