Simon Yates admitted he is struggling to comprehend the fact he has practically secured the Vuelta a Espana title and a maiden Grand Tour triumph.
The 26-year-old Mitchelton-Scott rider extended his lead to one minute and 46 seconds ahead of Sunday's final processional stage and, barring any late hiccups, he will become the third different British winner of a Grand Tour this year when he crosses the line in Madrid.
Chris Froome triumphed at the Giro d'Italia, while Geraint Thomas was victorious at the Tour de France, and Yates is still stunned at the thought of completing a British clean sweep of the Grand Tours.
"I think it's still sinking in, [it is] just an incredible day really," he said after the penultimate stage.
Yates had started Saturday with a 98-second cushion and the likes of Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana were unable to overhaul him across the six climbs in Andorra.
The champion-in-waiting had come close to winning the Giro earlier in the year only to drop from first to 18th overall after the 19th stage, and Yates highlighted how that experience had stood him in good stead in Spain.
Asked how important that had been for the Vuelta, Yates replied: "I think very important, not just today but just throughout the race.
"I really stayed calm, controlled my effort when I needed to and it's made a really big difference in the final [stages]. It's [been] of really big importance."
