Froome focusing on fifth Tour title

SHANGHAI - Britain's Chris Froome continued his dominant year by winning the China Criterium in Shanghai on Sunday, but said he faces an uphill task capturing a historic fifth Tour de France title.

Froome, who this year became the first rider since 1978 to win the Tour and Vuelta a Espana double in the same year, took the inaugural Shanghai race in a late sprint, just ahead of Colombia's Rigoberto Uran and Warren Barguil of France.

The 32-year-old Froome won his fourth Tour de France this year and last month bagged the Vuelta, leaving only the Giro d'Italia as the last grand tour to elude his grasp.