Chris Froome extended his lead in the Critérium du Dauphiné with a second successive victory on stage two.
Chris Froome, after his stunning victory in the time trial, was in the leaders yellow jersey with an eight second lead over Alberto Contador for a second stage which comprised of six climbs including the Hors Category finish on the 13% Col du Béal at the end of a 156km stage from Tarare.
Having bid 'Tarare' to Tarare, Froome led the riders out and it was straight onto the category two - Côte de Saint-Marcel-l'Éclairé. It was on that climb that Thomas Damuseau (Giant-Shimano), Kevin Reza (Europcar), Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale) and Matthias Brändle (IAM Cycling) got away.
They were over the second climb at Côte d'Albigny after 16.5kms and soon had a lead of over four minutes.
Over the category two Côte de Bard and the category two Col de la Croix de l'Homme Mort climbs with Kevin Rezza picking up all the maximum points and the gap had gone out to 4.33.
The next climb came after 115kms and Kevin Razza was again, first to take the maximum points on the Col des Pradeaux.
Onto the sprint with 25kms left and Mathias Brandle of IAM Cycling took the five points on offer as the lead of the five out front steadied at 3.40.
There was a crash in the peloton with Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) and Jan Bakelants (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) amongst those who hit the deck.
This allowed the time to go out to 3.45 but it was down to 1.40 when Alessandro De Marchi attacked with 11.5kms left as the climb up to the Col du Béal started.
Geraint Thomas took to the front of the peloton and led a group which included the race leader Chris Froome, that had passed De Marchi, before Nieve took over.
With 5.2kms, Chris Froome kicked and went. Contador was on his wheel but the rest of the peloton were left floundering in his wake.
Froome tried again but Contador stuck with him. Wilco Kelderman of Belkin then chanced his arm before Froome brought him back.
Jurgen Van Den Broeck of Lotto was next to go with just under three kilometres but his raid was quickly marked as was that of Talansky of Garmin Sharp.
Under the flam rouge on an 8.6% gradient climb and Froome attacked with 500ms to go. Contador chased him as did Kelderman, Froome was out of the saddle, Contador fought him all the way but Chris Froome took the win in 4.24.42 ahead of Contador, Kelderman, Van Den Broeck and Talansky.
Orica Greenedge's Adam Yates finished eighth.
Froome now leads Contador by twelve seconds and Kelderman by twenty one seconds.