The queen stage of the Circuit de la Sarthe was won by Italian Manuele Boaro (Saxo-Tinkoff) and even though Arthur Vichot could not beat the Italian, he again took a nice place of honor (fifth) and continued his preparation for the Ardennes classics.

After the stage, he rode his bike back to the hotel with Anthony Roux and Laurent Pichon for a total distance of 250km

There was a usual brakaway and a lots of attacks were fired when the riders reached the finishing circuit. Climbing the Mont des Avaloirs, the Vichot made the selection and the strong men decided the race.

"It was a hard race with seven escapees and then the attack from the four riders on the finishing cicuit, including Pierre Rolland. The yellow jersey, Italian Adriano Malori (Movistar) chased hard and the main group got back on the final climb. Arthur, ably assisted by Anthony Roux, who had followed a an attack by Fedrigo (Bretagne), and Laurent Pichon, took fifth place. He is seventh overall," sport director Franck Pineau said.

"On Friday, the last stage should favor a bunch sprint even if numerous riders may be candidates for a breakaway ... "