Porte proves his class on La Montagne de Lure

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Team Sky’s Richie Porte produced a hugely impressive performance to win the fifth stage of Paris-Nice on the Montagne de Lure, where he also claimed the leader’s yellow jersey. The Australian finished alone on the misty summit after breaking clear of the lead group with two kilometres of the climb remaining. Porte shot past Denis Menchov (Katusha), who had made an attack moments earlier, and increased his advantage over his rivals all the way to the line.

Menchov took second place, but the more important action had been taking place behind the Russian. After being very aggressive in his defence of the yellow jersey up to that point, Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp) suddenly seemed to lack the legs to chase after danger man Porte and looked instead to rivals such as Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing), Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Lampre duo Diego Ulissi and Michele Scarponi. When they looked back at the American, expecting the Garmin man in the yellow jersey to set the pace, the only rider who benefited was Porte.

Talansky eventually led this group in 33 seconds down on the Australian, who now leads the American by 32 seconds. With a time trial still to come on the Col d’Eze, Porte, who was very well supported by his Sky teammates today, looks well to retain the "race to the sun" title for the British team following Bradley Wiggins’ success last year.

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Jens Voigt, a top 10 finisher on the Montagne de Lure the last time Paris-Nice visited in 2009, instigated the break of the day with an attack out of the bunch with 14km covered. Cyril Lemoine (Sojasun), Thierry Hupond (Argos-Shimano), Paolo Longo Borghini (Cannondale) accelerated across the gap to join the RadioShack veteran, leaving Talansky’s Garmin teammates to take up pace-setting duties in the peloton.

The break’s lead reached six and a half minutes halfway through the stage, but it never looked likely to stay clear all way into the finish. With 14km remaining and the peloton just 90 seconds back, Voigt accelerated clear of his erstwhile companions. The German managed to hold off the Sky-led bunch until 7.5km from the summit.

Sky’s Kanstantsin Siutsou had been doing most of the work on the front up to that point. Soon after Voigt’s break had been nullified, he moved over and David López moved through with his Sky leader Porte right on his wheel. Robert Gesink (Blanco) attempted to slip out of Sky’s grip, with Scarponi joining him, but the relentless López soon tracked them down.

Christophe Le Mével was the next to take López on, edging clear with 5km, but the move that ignited the action came 500 metres later when Scarponi acclerated away from the yellow jersey group and glided past Le Mével. Looking comfortable as he turned a typically big gear, the Italian remained out on his own until Talansky shot away from the chasing group with 3km remaining. With Porte chasing close behind, the pair were soon on Scarponi, and were quickly joined by Quintana and then several more riders as the pace eased. Second-placed Andriy Grivko wasn’t with them, though.

Nicolas Roche (Saxo Bank) and then Talansky for a second time attempted to get clear. On the each occasion the group reformed. Menchov made the next move, and after a brief delay Talansky again led the chase. This time, however, Porte played his card, accelerating past the race leader. The Australian kept on going, barely glancing at Menchov as he zipped by him, the stage victory and the yellow jersey in his sights.

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