Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) has climbed to victory in Stage 6 of the Dauphine Libere. Costa overtook Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) with 300 m to go to win the mountainous, 183-km ride from Saint-Bonnet-en-Champsaur to Villard-de-Lans in 4:29:23. Nibali finished second at 0:05, and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) took third at 0:38. Nibali’s finish has made him the maillot jaune.

After an earlier sally was reeled in, nineteen riders attacked at 30 km. They were Nibali and Andriy Grivko (both from Astana); Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo); Romain Bardet and Jean-Christophe Peraud (both from Ag2r-La Mondiale); Adam and Simon Yates (both from Orica-GreenEdge); Tony Gallopin and Tim Wellens (both from Lotto-Soudal); Jonathan Castroviejo, Gorka Izagirre, and Rory Sutherland (all from Movistar); Alberto Losada (Katusha); Tejay van Garderen and Rohan Dennis (both from BMC); Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quick Step); Costa; Cyril Gautier (Europcar); and Stephen Cummings (MTN-Qhubeka). The peloton kept the move close and reeled it in at 51 km.

Attacks continued. Tony Martin (Etixx-Quick Step) forged a 30-second lead before being reeled in. Nibali countered and got a gap on the Col du Grimone. On the descent, Gallopin, Daniel Martin (Cannondale-Garmin), Valverde, and Costa bridged up to the Tour de France champion.

The escapees led the peloton by 3:30 on the Category 1 Col du Rousset. Nibali attacked his companions, but they caught him on the descent. Behind, BMC and Ag2r-La Mondiale led the pursuit as the rain fell.

With 20 km left, the break dropped Martin. The peloton accelerated. Gallopin attacked with 4.5 km remaining, but Nibali countered and dropped the Frenchman with 1.4 km left. Costa bridged up and passed Nibali with 300 m to go. As he reached the finish line, the Portuguese pointed to the stripes on his sleeves that identified a former world champion.

In Stage 5, Nibali did not show his best form, and he might have been concerned about his condition three weeks before the Tour de France. It appears that he surprised himself in Stage 6. “I was looking for answers,” he said. “I found a yellow jersey.”

Costa was happy that he had tested himself against strong riders and had passed the test. “What a joy for this victory at the end of such a difficult stage and leading top riders such as Nibali, Valverde, Martin, and Gallopin,” Costa said. “Yesterday, I tested my condition in the first mountain stage I faced after many weeks of training, and I focused my attention on recovering energy in view of today’s stage.

“We started at a very high average speed under the cold pouring rain. I joined two breakaway attempts, and I understood immediately that the second one was very good because all the members were very strong riders. I succeeded in being patient on the final climb. I had the best timing for reaching Nibali and overtaking him. I share the happiness of the victory with my team, with the sponsors, and my fans.”

In the overall, Nibali leads Costa by 0:29 and Valverde by 0:30. Stage 7 will be another standing shaker. The 155-km ride from Montmelian to Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc will feature five Category 1 ascents, including the climb to the finish. Who will win? Who will claim the maillot jaune? Check in at www.roadcycling.com and find out!