Arthur Vichot took a beautiful fourth place in the second stage of the Ruta del Sol that was won by Spanish sprinter Juan Jose Lobato del Valle (Movistar) ahead of John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) and Grega Bole (CCC-Sprandi).

This result demonstrates the excellent physical condition of the FDJ leader and the work of his teammates even if some of them are not at 100% after Wednesday's crash.

" We have only six runners," said sports director Franck Pineau. "And Murilo Fischer complained of knee pain and could not do more than finish the stage and Kenny Elissonde also hurt his knee. So there were three riders for the job until the crucial point that we had set, the foot of the third category mountain in the finale. Anthony Roux was great. Jérémy Roy has worked even though he was physically not at 100%. Cédric Pineau suffered a puncture two kilometers from the finish and would have been able to help Arthur in the final. Due to the circumstances, I am satisfied with my riders and the result."

After the rapid tempo on the main challenge of the day, the peloton was reduced to 80 riders and there was an attack from Edet (Cofidis) just before the summit, then from Selvaggi (Wanty Group Gobert) 4 kilometers from the finish line which was located at the end of a long false flat. Finally, race leader Alberto Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff) even gave it a go.

In the last kilometers, Arthur Vichot maneuvered perfectly but he had no response to Lobat's excellent sprint.

"Arthur works really well ," Pineau said. "Tomorrow, the final climb of the Alto de Hazallanas is probably too hard for him, but you never know. Not being dangerous to the favorites, he may decide to try something."