Carlos Betancur (Ag2r) won stage six of Paris-Nice on Friday - his second victory in two days - attacking on the final climb in Fayence to secure the overall race lead.
World champion Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) placed second, with Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) in third. Geraint Thomas (Sky) placed fourth, but it wasn't enough to keep hold of the yellow jersey and he now sits in second place on GC at eight seconds.
Devoid of time trial or mountain finish, race organiser ASO branded the 2014 edition of Paris-Nice as a 'race for the daring', and the riders must have taken heed with just about everyone having a go on the climb-packed final third of the stage.
Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) and Frank Schleck (Trek) were all part of various groups that put in a dig to try and get free of the Sky-led peloton.
By the descent off the penultimate climb of Col de Bourigaille it was only Damiano Caruso (Cannondale) and Dries Devenyns (Giant-Shimano) that were in front of the bunch. Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) then upped the pace, using his superior descending skills to reel the escape duo back in.
Thomas marked Nibali's move to stay in touch with the Italian, and as the bunch hit the three-kilometres-to-go mark Sky's David Lopez was back at the head of the lead group. Ag2r's Alexis Vuillermoz took off up the final ramp first - perhaps as a softener for team-mate Betancur.
A flurry of riders then accelerated up the climb to catch Vuillermoz, but it was just Costa and Betancur in front by the line, with the Colombian edging out the rainbow jersey. Nibali paid for his earlier efforts and was one of those to slip out the back of the lead group.
Saturday's penultimate stage contains five categorised climbs, but with a flatter section of around 40km before the finish in Biot Sophia Antipolis it's going to be tough for a break to stay away. The race concludes on Sunday.
Results
Paris-Nice 2014, stage six: Saint-Saturnin-lès-Avignon to Fayence, 221.5km
1. Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r
2. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida
3. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 3 secs
4. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky
5. Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ
6. Cyril Gautier (Fra) Europcar at 7 secs
7. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana
8. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Belisol
9. Stefan Denifl (Aut) IAM Cycling
10. Gorka Izaguirre (Spa) Movistar at 11 secs
Overall classification after stage six
1. Carlos Betancur (Col) Ag2r
2. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky at 8 secs
3. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida at 18 secs
4. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 22 secs
5. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar at 24 secs
6. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana at 25 secs
7. Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ at 27 secs
8. Jan Bakelants (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 29 secs
9. Cyril Gautier (Fra) Europcar at 31 secs
10. Stefan Denifl (Aut) IAM Cycling at 31 secs
Photo gallery: Paris-Nice 2014, stage five
Images from the fifth stage of 2014 Paris-Nice, won by Carlos Betancur
Photo gallery: Paris-Nice 2014 stage 6
Images from the sixth stage of 2014 Paris-Nice, won by Carlos Betancur
Geraint Thomas keeps Paris-Nice lead after stage five goes to Carlos Betancur
Team Sky's Geraint Thomas defended his lead at Paris-Nice race lead after Carlos Betancur (Ag2r-La Mondiale) took the victory on
Paris-Nice diary: Sky’s biggest challenge
Anarchic nature of this year's Paris-Nice route means that Sky will have a tough job controlling the race lead
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
Former Tour de France yellow jersey wearer to ride Unbound Gravel
Unbound 200 contestants will be joined by a gravel newcomer of note this year. Former Tour de France race leader Jan Bakelants is joining in on the fray.
-
POC Ventral Tempus MIPS Review - A helmet for riding in the rain, and being seen
Bright, light and comfortable, but not cheap
-
Tadej Pogačar luxury watch thieves to serve time after Paris-Nice robbery
The Tour of Flanders champion is the latest cycling star to be robbed of a luxury watch
-
The Mayor of Nice doesn't want Paris-Nice to finish on seafront as planned
The local leader has concerns about the impact the race during the lockdown
-
Nairo Quintana takes final stage seven as Max Schachmann hangs on for Paris-Nice overall victory
The Colombian took the summit finish victory as Schachmann survived to finish atop the GC
-
Wout Poels crashes out of Paris-Nice: taken to hospital for checks
Team Sky reports that Wout Poels has been taken to hospital after crashing on stage six of Paris-Nice while he was in second place overall
-
Paris-Nice 2018 live TV guide
Where to watch live coverage and catch highlights of the 2018 edition of Paris-Nice (March 4-111)
-
Arnaud Démare wins chaotic opening stage of Paris-Nice as big GC gaps already open up
Arnaud Démare (FDJ) won the first stage of this year's Paris-Nice ahead of Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors) in a chaotic day in northern France.
-
Lotto-Soudal change name and kit for Paris-Nice to promote sponsor's product
Lotto-Soudal will be known as Lotto-Fix All for Paris-Nice, to promote one of Soudal's products. The team will also wear a different kit
-
Paris-Nice win is next step in Geraint Thomas's path to leading a Grand Tour team
Team Sky say Geraint Thomas is a step closer to leading a Grand Tour team after impressing with his Paris-Nice victory
