Richie Porte claimed the overall leader's yellow jersey on the Criterium du Dauphine after finishing second in a gruelling sixth stage won by Denmark's Jakob Fuglsang, with Ireland's Dan Martin in sixth place.
Astana's Fuglsang outsprinted Australian Porte (BMC) and Chris Froome (Sky) at the end of a 147.5-km mountain trek from Villars les Dombes to La Motte Servolex.
Italian Fabio Aru, who was first atop the demanding ascent up the Mont du Chat (8.7 km at 10.3 per cent) after attacking some four km from the top, was caught in the descent by Tour de France champion Froome, Porte and his teammate Fuglsang.
The Dane narrowly beat Porte in a tight sprint.
Martin was in contention throughout buy slipped back slightly from the leading group just towards the end.
The Irishman finished just behind Alejandro Valverde and ahead of Romain Bardet with the trio 50 seconds behind the lead group. The Quick-Step rider sits in seventh place overall.
Overall, Porte leads former teammate Froome, who paced himself in the climb, by 39 seconds with Fuglsang in third place, 1:15 off the pace.
Spain's Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), whose early attack in the Mont du Chat backfired, is fourth, 1:20 behind, after conceding 50 seconds on Friday.
His compatriot Alberto Contador lost 1:06 and is now sixth overall at 1:47 behind Porte as the Tour de France's warm-up race reaches its climax on Saturday in the penultimate stage, a brutal effort featuring the ascent of the Col de Porte and the Col de Sarenne with a finish up l'Alpe d'Huez.
