After the sprint win for Elia Viviani (Team Sky) in the first stage where they had completely missed out, the FDJ team rebounded in the second stage won by Greipel (Lotto-Soudal). Sprinter Arnaud Démare finished in sixth place.

Actually, nothing worked on the first day. In fact, sports direcor Martial Gayant was frustrated to see that the French team wwere never really part of the race.

Hence, the team had a meeting before yesterday's stage where manager Marc Madiot sent them a message via telephone. Apparently, that had an effect.

"I saw a united group of seven riders (Anthony Geslin left the race for personal reasons)," Gayant said. "I think there had been an electro-shock. But we cannot change the fact that we are not physically at our best. It takes work. This also concerns Arnaud Démare who had not raced since the Tour de France. He still misses something to take a win but it was much better than yesterday.

"Mika Delage perhaps led him out too too early. He should have stayed behind the Trek Factory team longer but took the wind too early. There is a small chance tomorrow in the third stage but we can not be sure to raise our arms because we are not currently able to work like Lotto-Soudal."