Britain’s defending champion Geraint Thomas moved up to second in the Tour de France after a dramatic conclusion to stage 10.
Along with overall race leader Julian Alaphilippe, Thomas benefited from a late split in the peloton that caught many race rivals by surprise.
The 33-year-old had started out from Saint-Flour to Albi – the final stage before the first rest day – in fifth.
Belgian Wout van Aert edged out Elia Viviani in a thrilling sprint finish.
Speaking to ITV 4, Thomas, who is hoping to be the first rider since Miguel Indurain in 1992 to successfully defend his title as a first-time Tour winner, said: “I had a really good day in the end.
“We had a little go earlier but it was not the right conditions. We were always attentive and ready for anything.
“From our point of view we had everyone bar two guys [in the front group] so we were fully committed. There were plenty of guys turning and you could tell behind that they had gone full out [to catch up].
“They ran out of gas and the elastic snapped. You would never expect it today. But a positional error from them and they lose a minute and a half.”
Stage 10 result
1. Wout van Aert (Bel/Team Jumbo-Visma) 4hrs 49mins 39secs
2. Elia Viviani (Ita/Deceuninck-Quick-Step) same time
3. Caleb Ewan (Aus/Lotto-Soudal) same time
4. Michael Matthews (Aus/Team Sunweb) same time
5. Peter Sagan (Svk/BORA-Hansgrohe) same time
6. Jasper Philipsen (Bel/UAE Team Emirates) same time
7. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita/Bahrain-Merida) same time
8. Matteo Trentin (Ita/Mitchelton-Scott) same time
9. Oliver Naesen (Bel/AG2R La Mondiale) same time
10. Greg van Avermaet (Bel/CCC Team) same time
General classification after stage 10
1. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra/Deceuninck-Quick-Step) 43hrs 27mins 15secs
2. Geraint Thomas (GB/Team Ineos) +1min 12secs
3. Egan Bernal (Col/Team Ineos) +1min 16secs
4. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/Team Jumbo-Visma) +1min 27secs
5. Emanuel Buchmann (Ger/BORA-Hansgrohe) +1min 45secs
6. Enric Mas (Spa/Deceuninck-Quick-Step) +1min 46secs
7. Adam Yates (GB/ Mitchelton-Scott) +1min 47secs
8. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar Team) +2mins 04secs
9. Daniel Martin (Ire/Team Emirates) +2mins 09secs
10. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +2mins 33secs
More to follow.
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