It has become a trademark of the Bretagne-Seche team, invited to the Tour for the first time this year, to always have a rider in the breaks.

“It's our trademark but it's not our objective. The goal is to go in the right break and win a stage,” said team manager Emmanuel Hubert.

While Hubert himself already led a team in the Tour (Agritubel), he took five first timers with him this time, forcing him to a different form of management.

“The human aspect is different because there is a lot of questions, tension and apprehensiveness,” he said.

In spite of the discovery, the Breton riders boldly tried their luck since the start and Benoît Jarrier, Armindo Fonseca, Jean-Marc Bideau, Anthony Delaplace, Arnaud Gérard and the more experienced Brice Feillu, at ease in the Vosges, were all seen taking part in a break.

“It was close many times,” said Emmanuel Hubert, who would also be proud to take most of his debutants to the finish in Paris.