At the top of the last climb, the remaining sprinters already counted themselves rich in a stage that did not look like a sprinter’s chance on paper.
Søren Kragh Andersen shook up another fine number in the descent. With breaks in the peloton as a result. The Dane’s attempt was nipped in the bud moments later.
When a handful of Frenchmen shook the tree on a sloping stretch 10 kilometers from the finish, Burgaudeau was the only one to keep ahead of the thinned peloton.
There was no organization in the crowd. Former jersey wearer Laporte sensed his chance, went into the counter-offensive, but blew back into the peloton.
Burgaudeau whizzed under the red rag with a small bonus. It seemed like a win. But in the final meters the young Frenchman fell silent. Pedersen, Van Aert and co came dangerously close, but stranded on the finish.
