Romain Bardet of AG2R has taken victory on Stage Five of the 67th Critérium du Dauphiné.
Rohan Dennis of BMC was still in the leader's yellow jersey for this 161km stage from Digne-les-Bains to Pra-Loup, part of which will feature in this year's Tour De France.
All 162 riders signed on for a day of two category three climbs, two category two and the category one Col d'Alios and straight away, seven riders in Christophe Riblon (AG2R-La Mondiale), Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal), Pieter Serry (Etixx-QuickStep), Romain Sicard (Europcar), Arnaud Courteille (FDJ), Albert Timmer (Giant-Alpecin), Daniel Teklehaimanot (MTN-Qhubeka) were on the attack.
On to the The Col des Lèques with a lead of 3.40 and Courteille took the two points with one for Daniel Teklehaimanot, the KOM leader who took the two points as they went over the Col de la Colle-Saint-Michel.
LottoNL Jumbo's Brian Bulgac abandoned as the seven started on the category one Col d'Allos, which is 14kms long with average gradients of 5.5% and they were ahead with a lead of 3.25 with 38kms left, having jettisoned Christophe Riblon of AG2R.
Pieter Serry of Etixx Quick Step, who was now the virtual leader on the road, attacked off the front of the group of escapers but Romain Sicard, Tim Wellens and Albert Timmer were able to catch up to him.
With the gap at 2.09, Team Sky started to show an interest, mopping up Courteille and Teklehaimanot. They set a pace which brought the gap down to 23 seconds and one which the race leader was not able to keep up with.
The escapers were mopped up with 23kms left as Romain Bardet went over the top first and then put time into everyone on the descent.
Bardet started the day a minute behind but with ten kilometres to go, he was 1.02 clear.
Onto the final Pro Loup climb and Chris Froome was in a small group chasing Bardett who was still 1.11 clear with 1.8kms left.
With 1.5kms to go, Chris Froome kicked and shot off as Bardet went under the flam rouge.
However, Bardet's local knowledge had paid off and the AG2R rider took the win in 4.31.22. Tejay Van Garderen rounded Chris Froome to finish second with Froome third, Inxtausti fourth and Simon Yates fifth, followed by Meintjes, Talansky, Scarponi, Rolland and Frank.
Tejay van Garderen (BMC) who had been on the same time as Rohan Dennis is the new race leader with an eighteen second lead from Benat Inxtausti with Chris Froome fifth and Simon Yates sixth.
"I would like to thank my team who gave me a great build up," said Bardet. "It was frustrating not to have won before but I love the descent and I know it very well indeed and I had a minute gap and it was ok.
"When I am along I am always quick but I don't take too many risks. I was not thinking about the yellow jersey and was just thinking about the win."