AG2R La Mondiale had the opportunity to go right to the top of the podium. But the peloton gave the breakaway too many minutes and one man did go all the way. Bert-Jan Lindeman was uncatchable and won the stage ahead of Romain Bardet.

It was a strong AG2R team which drove onto the final climb. Bardet attacked from the bottom and left all the other riders to watch him drive away. Daniel Martin finished third after the strong Bardet and AG2R team-mate Jean-Christophe Peraud fresh from a runner-up spot in the Tour de France finished fourth.

Peraud says it was pure stupidity to give the breakaway up to seven minutes. The team will now attack the yellow jersey in the upcoming stage.

“I had fulfilled my team role, but was allowed by the team to go into a breakaway. We struggled to find some power. And I think we made some mistakes even though it was a good race for us. We took things in our own hands and Romain Bardet was strong. We do not underestimate the escapees, but it was stupid to give them seven minutes. Tomorrow [today] we will obviously try to attack the yellow jersey,” Peraud told DirectVelo.