Updated June 12, 2017 08:03:03

Photo: Richie Porte finished 10 seconds behind winner Jakob Fuglsang in the Criterium du Dauphine. (AAP: Dan Peled, File)

Richie Porte blew a lead of over a minute heading into the final stage of the prestigious Criterium du Dauphine to fall 10 seconds short of victory, as the Australian continues his preparation for a tilt at the Tour de France.

Porte led the overall standings by one minute and two seconds but Denmark's Jakob Fuglsang leapfrogged Porte in a thrilling final stage, which began in Albertville in France, to take out the race, having attacked on the final climb to the Plateau de Solaison.

Fuglsang held off Porte to win the 115-kilometre stage and beat the BMC rider by 10 seconds in the general classification.

He had been third heading into the final stage, 1:15 behind Porte and 13 seconds adrift of defending champion Chris Froome.

Porte, who was fifth in last year's Tour de France, had lost ground on the penultimate ascent but clawed his way back, only to come up short.

It is his second podium finish in the race, having also been runner-up in the 2013 edition.

Froome dropped Porte late in the stage but struggled on the final climb and saw his former Team Sky team-mate ride away.

Three-time Tour de France champion Froome finished fourth overall, one minute and 33 seconds off Fuglsang and one second behind Quick-Step's Daniel Martin, who was third overall.

Spain's Alberto Contador, a two-time Tour de France champion, cracked on the final ascent and finished in 11th place.

The Tour de France starts on July 1 from Duesseldorf, Germany.

Reuters/ABC

Topics: cycling, sport, france

First posted June 12, 2017 06:52:35