The day before the stage to the Mont Ventoux, a hilly stage was waiting for the Tour peloton, from Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule to Lyon. Matteo Trentin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) was the fastest of an escape in which Lotto-Belisol rider Lars Bak came sixth.

Immediately in the first of 191 kilometres there were attacks and 48,1km were covered in the first hour of racing. Lars Bak was active from the start and together with Kadri (AG2R) and Voigt (RadioShack-Leopard) he could create a gap, but they didn’t create a very big gap. After about 40 kilometres 14 riders closed the gap on the leaders. Bakelants (RadioShack-Leopard), Burghardt (BMC Racing Team), Millar (Garmin-Sharp) and Van Garderen (BMC Racing Team) were among the riders to bridge the gap.

Eventually 18 breakaway riders created and sustained a sufficient gap to keep the peloton at bay. As the finish line approached, the group diminished to 12 riders who battled it out for the stage.

“I had indicated this stage beforehand, I really wanted to be in the break,” Lars Bak said afterwards. “Today’s profile reminded me of the Giro stage I won last year. To really be in the break isn’t evident, the fact that I succeeded shows I was good. During the first two hours the pace was really high. It was extremely hard, especially with the wind. When we were in front with four, there weren’t sufficient teams represented, so they kept chasing us. The fourteen guys that joined us were all good riders. Only Euskaltel and Lampre were leading the chase until Sky took over and they just rode a steady tempo.”

“Thirty kilometres from the finish the final could start at the front. Several riders tried to take off. I knew that I had to survive the last three climbs and then I wanted to repeat the story of the Giro by attacking in the final five kilometres. I felt really strong today and had good legs. I really had the feeling I could go on. In the final I placed counter-attacks with five and three kilometres to go. When Simon was caught by the group and the sprint started, I was totally drained.”