Australian Richie Porte has claimed the overall leader's yellow jersey in the Criterium du Dauphine after finishing second in a gruelling sixth stage won by Denmark's Jakob Fuglsang.
Astana's Fuglsang outsprinted Porte (BMC) and Chris Froome (Sky) on Friday at the end of a 147.5km 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 4km 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.
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.
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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.
Froome and Porte will battle it out again in the mountains on a famed climb they both know very well.
Sunday's eighth and final stage is another fearsome mountain trek, with three big climbs and ending with an ascent of Plateau de Solaison.
Whoever comes out on top by Sunday will be confident of victory at the Tour, which begins on July 1.
"I'm pretty happy to be at the top with Richie, he's in unbelievable form. He's the best climber at the moment," Froome said.
"The Tour de France isn't too far away now. I still have a bit of work to do, but I'm on the right track."
