Geraint Thomas moved into the race leader’s yellow jersey after finishing second on the penultimate stage of Paris-Nice.
Team Katusha’s Ilnur Zakarin claimed victory on the 177km stage from Nice to the summit finish at La Madone d’Utelle.
But Thomas’ second place was enough to move the Team Sky man into yellow after he began the day sixth overall, 23 seconds behind Orica-GreenEdge’s Michael Matthews in the general classification.
Thomas and Zakarin were part of an elite five-man group which scaled the final climb, but Thomas was the only one to have a teammate with him as Sergio Henao was there along with former teammate Richie Porte (BMC), and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo).
Porte attacked inside the final kilometre but was reeled back in before Zakarin made his decisive move.
With Matthews not suited to such a mountainous stage, he tumbled down the standings while Thomas took over at the top, 15 seconds ahead of Contador and 20 clear of Zakarin.
Orica-GreenEdge’s Simon Yates is eighth overall, 44 seconds behind Thomas.
Sunday’s final stage is a 141km route which starts and finishes in Nice, featuring six categorised climbs including the famed Col d’Eze before a descent into town.
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