on Thursday in France, the champion of Russia was imposed after 179 kilometres of the race to the summit of the Giant of Provence. Vlasov has moved ahead of Australian Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) and the French Guillaume Martin (Cofidis).
The race, at the start of Vaison-la-Romaine, has seen the Spanish Garikoitz Bravo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) from solo. The Spanish, chased by a platoon led by the Astana team, has finally been taken up to 18 km of the arrival, in the foothills of Bald mountain.