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Wiggins holds off Evans, keeps lead in Criterium du Dauphine

RUMILLY, France (AP) -- Bradley Wiggins retained the overall lead of the Criterium du Dauphine by fending off a downhill attack by Cadel Evans in a mountainous fifth stage won by Frenchman Arthur Vichot in a late breakaway.

After the pack scaled three Alpine climbs, Vichot went ahead with four miles left in the 116-mile course from Saint-Trivier-sur-Moignans to Rumilly.

Vichot finished 26 seconds ahead of a seven-rider bunch led by Spain's Egoi Martinez, with the main title contenders crossing in a larger pack 59 seconds back.

Tour de France champion Evans and his BMC teammates went ahead on the downhill during the second and hardest climb - Le Grand Colombier - but Wiggins, the British Olympic champion and defending Dauphine winner, reeled in the Australian on the next ascent, the Richemond Pass.

Overall, Wiggins leads Germany's Tony Martin by 38 seconds. Evans is fourth, 1:44 back.