Belgian Jan Bakelants, riding for Omega Pharma-Quick Step, won the sixth stage of the Criterium du Dauphine on Friday while overall leader Chris Froome recovered from a nasty crash to keep the yellow jersey.
Bakelants, 28 and a Tour de France yellow jersey holder for two stages last year, won a two-man sprint against Dutch time-trial champion Lieuwe Westra after the duo broke free of an escape group down the stretch.
The stage covered 178.5km from Grenoble to Poisy with third place going to Czech rider Zdenek Stybar, who won a sprint from a small group 24 seconds behind the leaders.
Froome, the defending Tour de France champion, came home with his jersey and shorts shredded after crashing with 7.5km to race.
He lost over a minute on the peloton but sportsmanship prevailed as main rival Alberto Contador and the rest of the pack waited for Froome to catch up.
The Kenyan-born British Sky rider had deep grazes and cuts across his back, shoulder, elbow and hip as he arrived over four minutes behind Bakelants.
With Saturday's decisive mountain stage on the penultimate day, Froome is certain to be attacked by Contador who lies 12 seconds back.
Also tied for second is Dutchman Wilco Kelderman who closed the gap on Contador during Thursday's fifth stage.
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