With Domenico Pozzovivo out of the race, the Ag2r riders are free to seek personal success. Patrick Gretsch is aiming for tomorrow's stage.

"It was a more quiet day and I think many people needed that," he said. "We knew it could be a sprint. I wanted to attack with 3km to go but they rode very fast. I saw the crash but I was on the ride side and it didn't involve me.

"I have the impression that the form gets betters every day. Tomorrow we will have a big stage with 264km. I want to be in the break."