Today’s stage and the next two stages will be all about avoiding trouble for Team Saxo-Tinkoff. Without a sprinter in their ranks, their only focus will be to get safely through to the mountain stages.

The Italian sport director Fabrizio Guide explained today’s stage and their tactics for the following stages.

"The stage went without any big drama. The boys raced disciplined and rode at the front of the race in the end to avoid accidents. This will be our goal for the coming stages, which mostly look like stages for the strong sprinters of the race. This doesn’t mean that we can sit back and relax. We have to keep focus and make sure to stay at front, save our energy and prepare us for our terrain that will arrive later."

With no less than four potential GC riders, Saxo-Tinkoff has numerous options. Currently, Nicolas Roche is best-placed, sitting in 3rd on GC.