Gesink leads - Evans, Gerrans in break

Winner of yesterday's Paris-Nice stage, Cadel Evans was able to bridge across to the lead break today. However Evans decided to pull out of the break - saying the constant attacks were unnecessarily taxing - leaving the constantly aggressive Barredo to take the win. Gerrans was 6th. Hayman pulled out of the race due to injuring suffered earlier in the week.

From CN: Following the two initial stage wins by Gert Steegmans, Carlos Barredo has added one more to Quick Step's tally in Sisteron. It's a well deserved win since the Spaniard was the most active rider in the 17-man breakaway that contested the stage. He did most of the work and attacked three times before coming to the line alone. He also moved into the top ten overall between his team-mates Juan Manuel Garate and Alexander Efimkin.