Kashechkin alone in Cannes

The Kazakh rider, who finished 19th in the 2005 Tour deFrance, broke clear on the Col du Tanneron to reach the Mediterranean seafront alone and claim the biggest victory of his career.

American Floyd Landis (Phonak) finished in the main pack and retained his overall leader's jersey on the eve of the finish in Nice. He leads by nine seconds from Spain's Francisco Javier Vila (Lampre).

Sunday's final stage is a 135-km loop around Nice including three category one climbs.

Kashechkin, who joined team Liberty Seguros this season to assist friend and compatriot Alexandre Vinokourov in his Tour de France quest, held Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel at bay in the Tanneron descent.

The Cofidis rider took second place one minute six seconds adrift and five seconds ahead of compatriot Sandy Casar (Francaise des Jeux).

"This is a good Paris-Nice. It was not a main goal of my season but it allowed me to test my form on two fronts - the prologue, which I finished in second place, and today's stage," said Kashechkin.

"I had no strategy for today but I knew things could be decided in the Tanneron. I felt good, so I attacked.

"In any case I had no choice because I'm not a sprinter. I had to try my luck on my own and it worked out fine."

At nearly 26, the Kazakh made it clear his ambitions could clash with those of Vinokourov, the 2002 and 2003 Paris-Nice winner, who is missing this year's race to focus on other goals.

"Paris-Nice is an ideal preparation for my objectives, which are the Ardennes classics like Liege-Bastogne-Liege, but also the Tour de France which I will start hoping to bring the yellow jersey back to Kazakhstan," said Kashechkin.