Jurgen Van Den Broeck had hoped to gain time on some of his rivals in today's dramatic Tour de France stage and the Belgian indeed ended as one of the winners. Despite going down in a crash on one of the pavés, he was very pleased with the outcome.

Today the long-expected cobblestone stage between Ypres and Arenberg took place. From start to finish the sky was grey and there were several showers. This made the cobbles slippery and muddy. Before the start the Tour organization decided to cancel sectors seven (Mons-en-Pévèle - 1000 m) and five (Orchies - Beuvry - 1400 m).

It was a successful day for Jurgen Van den Broeck. The Lotto Belisol rider is sixth now in GC at 1’45” of Vincenzo Nibali. Van den Broeck finished at 2’02” of stage winner Lars Boom, with teammates Gallopin and Roelandts just behind him.

A few kilometers after the start a front group of nine was formed, with Tony Gallopin. The Frenchman had company of among other Tony Martin and Lieuwe Westra. They didn’t get much space, up to 2’30”. Gallopin was the best placed in GC, which made him the virtual yellow jersey. Because of crashes and riders that waited for their team captains the group got reduced.
 
The first sector immediately split up the peloton. Jurgen Van den Broeck rode attentively at the front. On the third sector of the day, in Bersée, Lars Bak got at the side of the road and made a somersault in the grass. Luckily the Dane didn’t have any consequences of it. On the same cobblestones also Van den Broeck hit the ground because Talansky slipped. But no damage for Van den Broeck.
 
With 28 kilometers to go Gallopin, Clarke, Hayman and Martin were reeled in by a group with yellow jersey Vincenzo Nibali. Those four were the last riders of the early break. A strong Gallopin punctured, but could join Roelandts and Van den Broeck who had jumped away from a chase group. Together with Roelandts, Gallopin used his power to bring Van den Broeck as close as possible to the group with Nibali.

Lars Boom took off on the last sector and rode solo to the victory. Fuglsang was second nineteen seconds later, just before teammate Nibali, who keeps the yellow jersey. Van den Broeck finished as sixteenth at 2’02”. In GC VdB is now sixth at 1’45”, in the same time as Gallopin, who is seventh. Gallopin finished in the same group as Van den Broeck and got eighteenth. Roelandts was nineteenth.

“I’m very happy with this result,# Van Den Broeck said. "I finished at 1’43” of Nibali. Among other Contador, Mollema, Talansky and Van Garderen finished behind me. I started the first cobblestone section well in front.

"Today I had as good as no problems and I felt very well. I crashed one time when Talansky slipped in front of me. I couldn’t avoid it. But I didn’t have any physical problems because of it, I only had some problems with the bike. Because of the sand and dirt my eyes got irritated, but that will be over tomorrow.

"Jürgen Roelandts and Tony Gallopin were a big help today. They took me in their wheel in the final. We were riding in between the front group and the group Talansky. I had a good day.”