FRENCH cyclist Laurent Jalabert moved close to a third straight Paris-Nice win by taking yesterday's sixth stage over 180 kilometres from Montelimar.

World number one Jalabert made the decisive move in the Ventoux mountain pass, halfway through the ride, when he escaped with Spaniards Santiago Blanco and Mikel Zarrabeita. Swiss Laurent Dufaux later joined them.

Jalabert won the stage from Dufaux and Blanco to strengthen his overall lead. With three stages left before the race ends in Nice - one today and two tomorrow - Jalabert heads Dufaux by 46 seconds with Blanco another 17 seconds back.

The day had started dramatically for the Frenchman, who fell in the morning