Friday 10 March 2017 19:03, UK
Britain's Simon Yates has claimed a solo victory in Friday's sixth stage of Paris-Nice.
The 24-year-old Bury rider triumphed on the 193.5-kilometres route from Aubagne to Fayence, which featured six categorised climbs.
Yates (Orica-Scott) pulled clear on the penultimate climb and held on to win by 17 seconds from Colombia's Sergio Henao (Team Sky), with Australian Richie Porte (BMC Racing) a further nine seconds back in third.
While France's Julian Alaphilippe retained the overall lead after finishing 29 seconds down alongside his Irish QuickStep-Floors team-mate Dan Martin, Yates moved himself up to eighth place, one minute and 37 seconds back with two stages remaining.
"I was still quite far down in the general classification before today so I had some freedom," said Yates.
"I expected some guys to come with me and work together for the finish but I found myself on my own.
"I was just full gas to the finish, I gave everything I had."
Alaphilippe leads Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal) by 36 seconds, with Henao 46 seconds behind in third. Martin is in fifth spot, one minute and 20 seconds back.
"It was hard, I had cramp at the foot of the climb," said Alaphilippe. "He [Henao] is going to be a serious rival tomorrow."
Saturday's 177km seventh stage concludes with a 15.7km climb up to the 1678m col de la Couillole, the highest finish in the race's 75-year history, before the race concludes on Sunday.
Stage 6 result:
1 Simon Yates (GB) Orica 4hr 37m 51s
2 Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky +17s
3 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC +26s
4 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) QST +29s
5 Dan Martin (Irl) QST) same time
Overall standings:
1 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Quick-Step Floors 21h 58m 22s
2 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal +36s
3 Sergio Luis Henao (Col) Team Sky +46s
4 Gorka Izaguirre (Esp) Movistar +57s
5 Daniel Martin (Irl) Quick-Step Floors +1:20
