Paris-Nice continues tonight with stage four taking the riders on a 200 kilometre ride from Brioude to Saint-Vallier on the banks of the Rhone in south-eastern France. We’ll have live updates
American Andrew Talansky of Garmin-Sharp will start the day in the leader’s yellow jersey after the time bonus he received for winning stage four catapulted him to a three second lead.
He takes the slim margin into the stage ahead of Andriy Grivko of Astana and Davide Malacarne of Europcar, all of whom were part of the seven man breakaway that held off the peloton in yesterday’s stage.
Local hope, and always combative, Sylvain Chavanel of Omega Pharma-Quick Step, is four seconds behind Talansky, with Euskaltel-Euskadi’s young gun Gorka Izaguirre a further second back.
There are four category two climbs and three category three climbs in store for the riders today, and you can expect those targeting the overall victory to make sure the pace is high on the climbs.
Join us for comments and live updates from 12.15am AEDT.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
The breakaway is done. They last few riders have been swallowed up by the peloton.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
Ivan Basso of Cannondale has been dropped and his team mates have dropped back with him to look after him. The wind is really playing havoc with the riders today.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
The grupetto is losing time fast, and it contains our green jersey wearer Elia Viviani. He could be surrending that jersey if Bozic or Chavanel win the stage.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
The peloton starts to fracture as BMC up the tempo at the front of the main bunch. It is setting us up for a really interesting finish, some jerseys may be changing hands today.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
BMC have come to the front of the peloton and are doing the bulk of the work at the minute, hoping to set the stage up for their man Teejay van Garderen.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
Schopp and Meersman catch Voeckler and Dupont on the descent, but the gap is now just 25 seconds with 18 kilometres and a Category 2 climb left on the stage.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
A quick update on the various jerseys. Andrew Talansky of Garmin-Sharp, who currently leads the General Classification, is with the peloton and provided he doesn't get dropped and they peloton catch the breakaway, he'll be in yellow again tomorrow. Elia Viviani of Cannondale needs to stick with the climbers up the last 2 hills or he risks surrending the lead in the Points Classification to Sylvain Chavanel if Chavanel finishes in the top few. Martijn Keizer from Vansoleil-DCM has lost the lead in the Mountains Classification to Johan Tschopp and has been dropped by the peloton up the Cote de Talencieux. The white jersey for Young Riders Classification is with Teejay van Garderen and he’s got plenty of protection in the peloton, however he’ll only remain in white if Talansky retains yellow as Talansky is actually the leader of that classification.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
7 points to Voeckler, 5 to Dupont. Johan Tschopp was 3rd and grabbed 3 points, Gianni Meersman took 2 points for fourth and Amael Moinard of BMC led the peloton to the top and grabbed a point for his troubles.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
Top of the climb and it's Thomas Voeckler of Europcar first to the summit. Hubert Dupont was second and the peloton is right behind them now and closing fast.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
RIchie Porte, Teejay van Garderen and Andrew Talansky all still with the main bunch.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
Gorka Izaguirre attacks. The young gun from Euskaltel-Euskadi will be hoping to push his case for overall honours.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
1 kilometere left on the Cote de Talencieux for Voeckler and Dupont. Gap down to 30 seconds.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
The sprinters are falling off the back in the peloton. Viviani, Kittel and Renshaw all dropped. Martijn Keizer, currently in the polka dot jersey has also been dropped.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
Dupont has gone with Voeckler, the others in the breakaway are dropped for now.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
Voeckler attacks up the Cote de Talencieux!
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
The gap just keeps on getting smaller, standing at just 1 minute now. The breakaway will still be hoping to get some more points by being first up the next climb, Johann Tschopp in particular.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
The riders in the breakaway are enjoying the descent, but their advantage keeps coming down. It's now down to 1:10 with 35 kilometres left in the stage.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
The front of the peloton is a sea of pink as Lampre come to the front and do some work.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
The second intermediate sprint into St Romain d'Ay was just won by Thomas Voeckler who picks up 3 points and a 3 second time bonus. Sicard grabbed 2nd to take 2 points and a 2 second time bonus while Dupont was third and gets himself 1 point and a 1 second time bonus.
jasonkohlmorgen
Roar Guru
40 kilometres left on today's stage and the gap is down to 1:20