Cycling: Vincenzo Nibali fends off Chris Froome in San Benedetto del Tronto

Vincenzo Nibali (GETTY IMAGES)

Astana's Vincenzo Nibali has retained his Tirreno-Adriatico title despite the threat of Team Sky's Chris Froome, following the closing time trial in San Benedetto del Tronto.

Nibali set only the 12th-best time on the stage, won by world time-trial champion Tony Martin, but Froome's sixth-best time took only 11 seconds out of the Italian's 34sec advantage, claimed on Monday in the mountains around Porto Sant'Elpidio.