Paris-Nice / 09-16 March 2014

['Dale]

The four leaders are working well together at the moment and they continue with 64km to go. MTN have a rider in the break for the second time in as many days as the lead hovers at 6'24.

['Dale]

And the peloton are already increasing the pace, with riders starting to drift back to the team cars to take off a layer of clothing, as BMC start to move up towards the front. They have Evans here of course, and they'll be looking to protect the Austrailan. Who knows, perhaps he'll fancy his chances. More likely is that they'll be looking to set up Gilbert.

['Dale]

60km to go and the gap has dropped slightly to 6'04.

['Dale]

Bradley Wiggins sits at the back of the peloton as the gap drops down to 5'18. Coming up the riders will start the finishing circuit for the first time, with Lampre on the front.

['Dale]

And it's Lampre who lead the peloton over the line for the first time, Omega and Cavendish are just behind Horner's men. The pace isn't going to drop at all now and the bunch are really winding things up. Kittel is close towards the head of affairs as well.

['Dale]

And it's Lampre who lead the peloton over the line for the first time, Omega and Cavendish are just behind Horner's men. The pace isn't going to drop at all now and the bunch are really winding things up. Kittel is close towards the head of affairs as well.

['Dale]

 

Demare is here too, with FDJ riders sitting around him. The finish also suits him, but so much of today's finale is going to come down to timing.

['Dale]

It's currently Petacchi who leads the field, the former sprinter doing his share of the work in bringing back the break. The lead is now down to 4'36.

['Dale]

 

Modolo, meanwhile, has dropped back to the Lampre team car. He picks up a bottle and heads back to the bunch. Surely a teammate could have done that for him, but perhaps he wanted to have a chat face-to-face with his DS.

['Dale]

Tour de France former winner Bradley Wiggins is back with the team car too, picking up at least one bottle.

['Dale]

 

Almost into the final 45km and the leaders have 4'06. Wiggins is still at the back of the field but looking comfortable. His teammate Richie Porte, who is here for the GC, is closer to the front.

['Dale]

46 km to go

Breakaway has just over 4 mins lead

 

'10 km a minute is a break's time advantage' as the adage say

 

The peloton should get into gear soon

['Dale]

 

Less than four minutes for the leaders as they head towards the finish for a second time. The road rises gently with around 1km to go before hitting 11 percent and then 5 per cent.

['Dale]

Pozzato is now back with the Lampre car, while up ahead one of his teammates set the pace.

['Dale]

 

Curvers has crashed. It looked like he lost concentration and went straight ahead at a roundabout but he may have seen it late. There was no official there to warn him it seems. He's back on his feet though and after a long wait for a new bike, is back chasing.

['Dale]

 

The gap is down to three minutes and the break is starting to fall apart with Thurau going clear. He uses the incline before the line as his launchpad to attack and there's a strong chance riders will use that on the final ascent before the finishline.