Team Sky's Chris Froome has warmed up for the Tour De France by winning the Criterium Du Dauphine.
Froome finished second in the final 155.5km stage from Sisteron to Risoul and took the overall victory for Sky's third victory in the race in successive years.
Tim Wellens (Lotto Belisol), Francesco Gavazzi, Andriy Grivko (Astana), Yannick Eijssen, Manuel Quinziato (BMC), Juan Manuel Garate, Marc Goos (Blanco), Markel Irizar (RadioShack-Leopard), Travis Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge), Alberto Losada (Katusha), Rudy Molard (Cofidis), Mikel Astarloza, Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Anthony Geslin (FDJ), Perrig Quemeneur (Europcar), Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Alessandro De Marchi, Jose Sarmiento (Cannondale), Jonathan Castroviejo, Imanol Erviti (Movistar), Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil-DCM), William Clarke, Thomas Damuseau (Argos-Shimano) and Sebastien Duret (Bretagne-Seché) had launched the first major attack of the day after thirteen kilometres and were 3.35 ahead with 104 kms to go.
King Of The Mountains leader Thomas Damuseau of Argos-Shimano, took the category three Côte de la Bréole climb before . Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ), Ben King (RadioShack Leopard), Thomas De Gendt (Vacaonsoleil-DCM) and Nikolas Maes (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) joined the list of those who had abandoned the race or withdrawn due to illness or injury.
On the slopes of the Col de Vars. Tim Wellens of Lotto Belisol and Cannondale's Allesandro De Marchi slipped away from the other escapers before Travis Meyer of Orica-GreenEdge joined and passed them.
Alessandro De Marchi who had caught up with Meyer took the points on the climb before Wellens joined them again and the trio set off on the descent with a 2.07 lead over the peloton with 33kms left.
Eight kilometres later and Alberto Contador hit the deck after being hit by Luis Angel Mate in a crash on a wet speed bump but the Spaniard was soon back on his bile and backing chasing Froome who was being led by Ian Stannard and Geraint Thomas but not Tommy Voeckler who abandoned.
Tim Wellens started to push clear as the remaining riders started on the final category one Montée de Risoul climb which was 13.9kms long and had an average gradient of 6,7 % in foggy and damp conditions.
He had a thirty second lead ahead of Mayer, De Marchi, Losado and Quinizato and two minutes on the group which contained Froome, Contador, Rogers, Valverde, Dani Moreno, Joaquim Rodriguez ha), Sammy Sanchez, Damiano Cunego, Jurgen Van Den Broeck and Rohan Dennis, as well as Team Sky's Boasson Hagen, Thomas, Kennaugh and Porte who were working for Froome.
With five kilometres left, De Marchi caught Wellens and took over at the front with a 1.18 lead. Contador and Gallopin followed but were dragged back by Peter Kennaught, whilst Michael Rogers third place on the podium started to look in jeopardy.
There was now only De Marchi left in front so Chris Froome and Richie Porte attacked. However, Cannondale's Allesandro De Marchi held on to win with Froome finishing second 24 seconds later ahead of Andrew Talansky and 31 seconds ahead of Richie Porte and 38 seconds ahead of Jakob Fuglsang.
Froome told his website: "I have won the Dauphine, and other races before, but the counter is back to zero when the Tour starts. There will be six to seven main contenders for overall victory.
"The names? Contador, Valverde, Rodriguez, Evans, Van Garderen, Quintana are all capable of strong rides."
On Sunday’s performance, Froome added: "It would have been great to win the stage but we have already won two this week. It just proved impossible to reel in De Marchi."
Final Classifications:
1 Froome
2 Porte +58"
3 Moreno +2'12"
4 Fuglsang +2'18"
5 Navarro +2'20"
Jerseys
Yellow: Froome (SKY)
Green: Meersman (OPQ)
White: Dennis (GRS)
KOM: Damuseau (ARG)