With a dominating performance Richie Porte (Team Sky) took the stage win and the overall lead in the queen stage of Paris-Nice. Normally a strong domestique for Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome he was happy to make the most of a rare opportunity to go for a personal result.

Richie Porte has build up a reputation as being one of strongest mountain domestiques in the world. In last year's Paris-Nice, Tour de Romandie, Criterium du Dauphine, Tour de France  and Vuelta a Espana he was seen spending endless of hours on the front of the peloton to make the pace for team captains Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome.

With Wiggins and Froome using Volta a Catalunya and Tirreno-Adriatico as the next step in their build-up for their main season objectives Porte entered Paris-Nice in the rare position of being the sole focus of the team. Today's win proved that the trust was well-deserved, and Porte was happy to make good use what he has learnt from his captains.

“I’ve done an apprenticeship under Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome and also before that Alberto Contador (while at Team SaxoBank-Sungard, ed.)," Porte told. "You don’t always get the opportunity to ride for yourself in a team like this, so when it comes you have to grab it with both hands. It’s just nice to get a big victory, and I’ll take the rest as it comes.”

Having often played the role of key mountain domestique Porte was quick to praise the man who played that same role for him in today's stage.

“It all played into our hands in the finale, especially having (David, ed.) López there as my wingman," Porte told. "He was so cool, calm and collected which was really helpful. So credit to him and the whole team today."

With a 32 second lead in the GC Porte is in a very good position to go for the final victory. He will have to rely strongly on his team in tomorrow's long, difficult stage in the hills around Nice before it will be up to himself to finish it off in the time trial on Col d'Eze on Sunday.

With the team being impressive today Porte is confident in his defence of the jersey.

“It’s nice to win a stage of Paris-Nice and to take the jersey," he said. "I know full well that tomorrow is another day and there’s also the last stage. But I feel we have a good to team to defend yellow so fingers crossed."

Portal praises Porte's tactics

Sport director Nicolas Portal was of course pleased with Porte's performance. He took special notice not only of his strong legs, but also of the way he used his head to get rid of the leading American Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp).

“Today was a perfect result for Richie and for the team," Portal said. "It was a really impressive performance. The manner of victory too today makes it even better. Going clear on his own and taking that time out of his rivals was perfect. It was also good because he wasn’t just strong in the legs, he was strong tactically. Talansky made a bit of a mistake and Richie knew when to attack."

“Every day in this race he has always been in a good position, concentrating and in the right moves. He’s been riding confidently and without stress. He’s learned a lot over the last year. All eyes were on him and he waited and waited before counter-attacking at the perfect time. It’s also great for the team having a lot of new guys here. Everyone is really happy with how we rode today – not just on the final climb but the whole stage.”

One man down

However, all was not good for the team in today's stage. After having proved his strength on the final climb of the third stage, Jonathan Tiernan-Locke was forced to abandon the race today. With tomorrow's stage being 220 km the loss will be dearly felt when the team takes on the task of defending the jersey.

Portal explained the reason behind Tiernan-Locke's withdrawal.

“The only sad thing today was that Jonathan had to abandon," he told. "He was suffering with a few stomach problems and he was totally empty. No one wants to stop at this point in the race, but there was nothing he could do. We saw on Wednesday exactly what he is capable of.”

With the impressive performance of Lopez and Kanstantsin Siutsou on today's final climb, the team does, however, possess the horsepower to carry Porte through tomorrow's stage.