Katusha's Yury Trofimov has won the fourth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné.
Benat Intxausti (Movistar), Thor Hushovd (BMC) and Daan Olivier (Giant-Shimano) did not start a fourth 167.5km stage from Montélimar to Gap in Western France.
After twenty one kilometres, Maxime Bouet (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Jan Bakelants (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Andriy Grivko (Astana), Imanol Erviti (Movistar), Romain Sicard (Europcar), Pim Lightart (Lotto Belisol), Gustav Larsson (IAM Cycling), Damiano Caruso (Cannondale), Bob Jungels (Trek Factory Racing), Peter Velits (BMC), Yuriy Trofimov (Katusha), Lars-Petter Nordhaug (Belkin) and Christian Meier (Orica-GreenEdge, got into the break.
With a lead of 4.10, Jan Bakelants was first over the summit of the Côte de Rosans, followed by Jungels and Grivko on a slightly cooler day where temperatures were around the twenty one degree mark.
Following the abandoning of Gianni Meersman of Omega Pharma Quick Step, Cameron Meier took the sprint which was uncontested whilst behind them, the peloton which had Team Sky on the front started to bring the riders closer.
Froome, who has been involved in a public information film for the Tour De France calling for the public to ensure that riders and children are safe during the race, which starts in Leeds on July 5th, punctured on his Pinarello Dogma F8 bike and was paced back by Geraint Thomas.
With 22kms left, the gap was under three minutes as Tinkoff Saxo and Astana took to the front as the race went through Gap and started the climb up the Col de Manse and three kilometres later, the gap was down under two minutes, when Yury Trofimov (Katusha) attacked alone from the break, whilst around fifty riders made up the peloton.
There were attacks all over the place with Ryder Hesjedal taking a fifteen second lead on the yellow jersey group.
Trofimov was first over the Col de Manse and started on the tricky descent back into town with thirteen kilometres to go.
Two riders went down on a descent for which a warning was issued for, as Trofimov, who was 6.02 down on the general classification, took a 38 second lead over his persuers.
With a thirty second lead, Trofimov sailed under the flam rouge and took victory in 3.59.32. Gustav Larsson of IAM Cycling came in second ahead of Pim Ligthart of Lotton Belisol, followed by Nordhaug, Velits, Bouet, Bakelants, Caruso and Grivko.
Trofimov said about his win: "Right to the last minute, I didn't believe it was possible. But I am so glad to have won."
Chris Froome finished 2.10 down on Trofimov's time but keep's his leader's jersey for another day.