Team Sky’s Welsh rider Geraint Thomas cemented his control of the Criterium du Dauphine after finishing second on Saturday’s 6th and penultimate stage won by Spaniard Pello Bilbao.

Bilbao made his move late on during the gruelling stage that is almost the same as the Tour de France stage 11, with four major climbs and a summit finish at la Rosiere.

Thomas came in second, managing to put some further valuable seconds between himself and rivals for the yellow leader.

Briton Adam Yates, riding for Mitchelton, is second in the overall standings, 1min 29sec behind Thomas, with France’s Romain Bardet jumping up to third from seventh overnight, at 2min 01sec.

Sunday’s seventh and final 136km stage ends in the ski resort of Le Bettex after five climbs.