For the second day in a row, Thibaut Pinot was on the attack in a stage of the Tour de France.

"Today the initial tactic was to work for Arnaud (Démare). Unfortunately, we did not imagine such a fast start. Very quickly 24 riders attacked and later we were only 9 very strong guys. I was there, not by chance but because I had good legs so I decided to follow.

"At one point, I just asked what I was doing there, but on one side, I don't have much to lose. I take pleasure and I do not calculate. I have no need to do so as I am far behind in GC. The breakaway was very strong so I was happy to be there. It was nice," he said.

"The legs are getting better every day. I start to enjoy myself on the bike. I am ready for the Alps, ready to try things. In the Tour, every day is a new chance. There is no reason that it shouldn't work out."

Along the way he scored six points for the KOM classification.
 

"The polka dot jersey could become a target. We'll see in the Alps. If I miss six points in Paris, I will not regret this day," he added.