Richie Porte (Sky) took his third stage victory of the season, winning stage four of Paris-Nice on Thursday, with team-mate Geraint Thomas coming home in second.
World Champion Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-QuickStep) finished third to regain the overall lead in the race from overnight holder of the yellow jersey, Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge).
Porte moves up to second overall at one second, with Thomas in third at three seconds.
Already a winner of Paris-Nice in 2013, Porte is enjoying a renaissance of form after a quiet 2014. This year he has won key stages in the Tour Down Under and Volta ao Algarve, as well as the Australian time trial title.
The day's action started with an attack by Thomas de Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) and Antoine Duchesne (Europcar). They were soon joined by Chris Anker Sorensen (Tinkoff-Saxo), and the trio stayed out front for the majority of the long 204-kilometre stage, collecting up the spoils on the day's eight categorised climbs.
Duchesne dropped out of the break after the second category Côte de La Gimond with 50km to go, but de Gendt and Soresen continued on until being caught before the day's final climb of Croix de Chaubouret. De Gendt came away with the King of the Mountains jersey for his troubles.
Geraint Thomas: I'd bet all the money I have that Froome and Wiggins are clean
Geraint Thomas gives his reaction to the Cycling Independent Reform Commission doping report
As the final ascent set in, riders were quickly being dropped out the back of the bunch. Warren Barguil (Giant-Alpecin) was an early casualty after getting caught in a crash, immediately ruling himself out of playing a part in the day's finale.
Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) was the first to launch an attack, but was soon caught by the peloton led by Sky. Lars Petter Nordhaug and Nicolas Roche both did large turns at the front, keeping the pace high and preventing any further attacks. The reason for that became apparent in the final three kilometres as Thomas launched himself up the road.
The Welshman's acceleration served to splinter the bunch. He was first joined by Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) and Simon Spilak (Katusha), then Porte bridged over from a chase group. Porte subsequently accelerated away, followed by Thomas on his wheel. The Sky duo rode clear of their rivals to take a memorable one-two.
Results
Paris-Nice 2014, stage four: Varennes-sur-Allier to Croix de Chaubouret, 204km
1. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky
2. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky
3. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx-Quickstep
4. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana
5. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing
6. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida
7. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Soudal
8. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana
9. Rafael Valls (Spa) Lampre-Merida
10. Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha
Overall classification after stage four
1. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx-Quickstep
2. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky at 1 sec
3. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky at 3 secs
4. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing at 27 secs
5. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana at 32 secs
6. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Soudal at 38 secs
7. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida at 41 secs
8. Gorka Izaguirre (Spa) Movistar at 44 secs
9. Tiago Machado (Por) Katusha at 50 secs
10. Rafael Valls (Spa) Lampre-Merida at 51 secs
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
-
-
Meet The Joker, a brake-less, chain-less crit racing bike
New York City-based Priority Bicycles today launched a fixed-gear, 70T belt-drive criterium and track racing machine
-
Pirelli claims updated P Zero Race TLR tire is 24 per cent faster than before
The tire giant also claims that aramid fibres used improve puncture resistance. Wider tyres on the way
-
Closing the gap: David Gaudu emerges from Paris-Nice more confident than ever before
The Groupama-FDJ rider finished second overall at the Race to the Sun, but gained more than just the result
-
Goodbye lime: We need to talk about the Tour de France green jersey
There's change afoot at ASO's French races, with the combativity colour also undergoing a revamp
-
Andrei Kivilev remembered 20 years on from his death at Paris-Nice
Kazakh rider’s death during 2003 edition led to helmets being made obligatory in racing
-
Paris-Nice just first step on the road to Tour de France redemption for Tadej Pogačar
The UAE Team Emirates rider might have won the Race to the Sun but he is not taking anything for granted
-
Lefevere suggests UCI is 'short of cash' after fining Alaphilippe
Soudal Quick-Step rails against the ruling body after his French team leader is penalised for removing his helmet while racing
-
Big two becomes big three as Gaudu joins Pogačar and Vingegaard at Paris-Nice
Tadej Pogačar might have won again, but it was close, and David Gaudu could yet win Paris-Nice
-
'It's likely to be very dangerous' - Inside Paris-Nice stage six, the race that never was
Friday's stage was first shortened to 80km, then called off completely thanks to "exceptionally violent winds"
-
‘Second is not bad but it’s the victories that count’ - Olav Kooij gets revenge at Paris-Nice
Jumbo-Visma rider overhauls Pedersen in reversal of stage two fortunes
