The FDJ team kept its word. On Monday evening, sports director Franck Pineau promised that his riders would compete in the sprint in Saint-Amand-Montrond. And the team almost won as French champion Arnaud Demare was beaten by Andre Greipel by less than a wheel length.

Before the sprint, the stage was animated by a solo breakaway from former FDJ rider Arnaud Gérard (Bretagne-Seche Environment) who was caught after the Cote de la Tour with 40km to go. The Cannondale team accelerated sharply but failed to worry the peloton. Howeverm they forced Sébastien Chavanel who had suffered a punctyre, to chase hard. Back in the peloton, he recovered a bit before he found his position alongside his sprinter.

With 9km to go, Tony Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) attacked alongside Lars Boom (Astana) and Geraint Thomas (Team Sky), making it even more demanding at the end of the stage.

"Those three stressed the pack, says Arnaud Démare. "They were ahead on small roads and we panicked a bit. No team wanted to take action. It was scrappy but despite not being organized, we managed to catch them."

William Bonnet had been attentive to join a chase group but everything was back together with 1.5km to go.

"Under the red kite, I was in the top eight, well led by my teammates who dropped me off in the wheel of Greipel who still had a lead-out man," Demare says. "I tried to pass him but I missed the power. This is not a disappointment. I'm glad I got the chance to sprint, the team did a good job. I had no legs to pass Greipel but I'm happy. I have had a good feeling since Het Nieuwsblad and the pressure has been building week after week. Now I have to go for a win. I hope to win soon."