On Sunday, Britain's Chris Froome smashed it to be crowned reigning King of the Mountains (KOM) and increase his overall Tour lead.
Britain's Mark Cavendish relinquished his hold on the Dubai Tour lead as Germany's John Degenkolb claimed a potentially decisive win in Friday's third stage.
That hesitancy was understandable: The Spaniard was barely known in the sport and took the Tour lead only after the man in the yellow jersey, Michael Rasmussen, was ejected for lying to drug inspectors.
Froome, a Kenya-born Briton, had wanted to follow up on his explosive ride to Ax 3 Domaines on Saturday, which brought him the Tour lead for the first time in his career and opened big-time gaps over his rivals.
Webb Simpson, a 24-year-old rookie with a flat belly, a rounded North Carolina accent and his first PGA Tour lead, backed up his opening-round 66 with a 68 for a total of 134 and a two-stroke lead over Paul Goydos and Steve Marino, who each shot 71.
Byrum, McCarron share Champions Tour lead.
