Geraint Thomas survived another nervy moment in Paris-Nice ahead of Saturday’s decisive penultimate stage.

Twenty-four hours after a crash, the Cardiff-born racer was fractions away from smashing into a kerb near the finish of stage five.

Thomas just managed to avoid clumping into the concrete near the finish and was able to get back into the main bunch for the sprint finish.

But he slipped one place to sixth and is now 23 seconds behind Michael Matthews after the Australian nabbed a four seconds time bonus by taking third spot.

Astana’s Alexey Lutsenko took the win in Salon-de-Provence with a solo breakaway to move second overall six seconds down on Matthews.

Thomas’ chances of following up his triumph at the Volta ao Algarve by taking overall victory in the Race to the Sun will probably rest on Saturday’s mountainous queen stage.

Team Sky team-mate and fellow Welshman Luke Rowe is 112th overall.