Starting with the first category climb of the Col de l’Espogoulier almost immediately, the peloton was already trimmed by the time a compact bunch – despite an early flurry of attacks – contested the first intermediate sprint.

Riders continued to attack, with Cyril Gautier (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Ben King (Dimension Data) among the most active, but neither got in the eight-man move which finally stuck.

Ben Swift (UAE Abu Dhabi), looking for form ahead of Milan-San Remo, was in the eight-man move, while Movistar had a numerical advantage with Winner Anacona and Jose Herrada present.

An attack by Alessandro de Marchi (BMC Racing) and Eduardo Sepulveda (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) meant they were the only two leaders left with 40km to go, and their advantage had been virtually wiped out when they crossed the Fayence finish line for the first time.

Behind him, Henao rolled in second and Porte took third, but Alaphilippe held off his remaining challengers – thanks in no small part to a big dig from team-mate Dan Martin at the end – as he crossed in fourth place.

The result moves Yates up to eighth overall, 1.37 behind Alaphilippe, while Henao is now 46 seconds in arrears with two mountain stages to go over the final weekend.

Paris-Nice 2017: stage six – result

1) Simon Yates (GBR) – Orica-Scott – 4.37.51hrs
2) Sergio Henao (COL) – Team Sky +17”
3) Richie Porte (AUS) – BMC Racing +26”
4) Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) – QuickStep Floors +29”
5) Dan Martin (IRL) – QuickStep Floors – ST
6) Ion Izaguirre (ESP) – Bahrain-Merida +32”
7) Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) – Astana – ST
8) Alberto Contador (ESP) – Trek-Segafredo
9) Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) – Katusha
10) Tony Gallopin (FRA) – Lotto-Soudal

General classification

1) Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) – QuickStep Floors – 21.58.22hrs
2) Tony Gallopin (FRA) – Lotto-Soudal +36”
3) Sergio Henao (COL) – Team Sky +46”
4) Gorka Izaguirre (ESP) – Movistar +57”
5) Dan Martin (IRL) – QuickStep Floors +1.20
6) Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) – Katusha-Alpecin +1.31
7) Alberto Contador (ESP) – Trek-Segafredo +1.34
8) Simon Yates (GBR) – Orica-Scott +1.37
9) Ion Izaguirre (ESP) – Bahrain-Merida +2.04
10) Warren Barguil (FRA) – Team Sunweb +3.08