Another flat stage. Let's keep it cool.

Txurruka and Antomarchi went in the break.


With 9km left we were all tired because of the hard pace and strong wind. There were just 72 left in the peloton, but thankfully all of us.


I tried to follow Sagan but it was too hard.


As usual it was Jarlinson who put in a monster effort. It never ceases to amaze me how much of a fighter he is. With 4km left he was our only hope.


Unfortunately he was left behind when the sprint started. He was 9th with 1km to go.


Cavendish took the win.


Jarlinson finished a good 14th, Thibaut was 21st and I was 25th.


There's me crossing the line.

Another flat stage. Hopefully there'll be less carnage today.

In the break were Nuyens and Malori.


Once again the wind was ravaging the peloton. I was the best placed in the team.


With 13km left a group of 9 favourites and GC riders got away. Boasson Hagen punctured at the worst possible time.


Most of our guys were back, but I tried to get Jarlinson into a good position.


Thibaut then came in and joined at the middle of our train. All of a sudden we were looking good. 5km to go.


I made a nice gap, and was hoping that I'd set up a good result.


Unfortunately we're no sprinters, and Jarlinson also couldn't really get through.


Sagan beat Demare on the line.

In order of our team, it was Jarlinson, Thibaut, me, then Rohan in 22nd, 23rd, 33rd and 39th respectively.

The cobbles stage... This is what we've been dreading - we only have Rene who's good on cobbles. The rest of us are, to be blunt, shit.

In the break were Elissonde, Van Keirsbuick and Boswell.


On the cobbles sections, we tried to stay up front.


With 13km left, 8 riders were away. No GC guys though.


After protecting Thibaut very well, Rene went away on the longest cobbled section.


He easily caught the others, after Sagan had attacked.


Cancellara took a great solo win up the road.


Rene sprinted through in 8th for a great result.


I rolled through in 30th, moving up to 11th in the GC, and Thibaut finished in 53rd and went into 12th overall.

Another flat stage. The last one for a while though!

In the break were Antomarchi, Westra and Gilbert.


We had a good train, with Rohan added to the front.


The Aussie used his extreme TT skills to put in a great pull.


Rene also did well.


But unfortunately Jarlinson stuffed up for the first time ever. Alec followed Cavendish.


Unfortunately there was too much congestion, but the Canadian picked up his first Tour Top 10.


I finished in 64th, and luckily there was no time gap.

The hill stages are starting! I've been given the leadership for the most part of this next week, with the hills to steep for Virgilijus but not steep enough for Thibaut.

Mondory, Bookwalter and Jungels went into the break.


On the last climb, myself and Virgilijus put up a hard pace.


I went on my trademark attack on the downhill with 5km to go. Fighter mode activated!


With 2km left I still had a small lead. Sagan went very early; I was didn't know whether he would catch me or not. I still had some energy.


Unfortunately he passed me with just over 1km to go. So unlucky, but could I hold off the rest?


Hard to tell. I was only just holding off the pack...


Eventually I held my guard for 6th, the team's best result in this edition of the Tour so far. Not bad; not bad at all.

More hill action. Hopefully I can show what I can do.

5 riders went in the break today.


With 22.5km left Thibaut went up the road. I was just behind with no water.


I attacked to drop Sagan on the downhill. Thibaut was ahead with Martin and Rolland.


With 5km to go there would be 9 men to contest for the victory. Thibaut was techincally the best climber, so I started to shield him from the wind.


With 3km to go I tried to set him up with an attack after building speed on the downhill.


The sprint started 1.3km out. My teammate was patient.


Meanwhile Virgilijus took a tumble just 2km behind.


Unfortunately, despite my leadout, Thibaut couldn't accelerate at all.


Rolland crossed the line first.


Thibaut and then me were 9th and 10th respectively. To be honest, I'm pretty disappointed with him, because I gave him quite a good leadout.