7 in the break today.


With 83km to go Thibaut tried to ride away. He was caught, but we got Esteban to pace with about 55km to go in order to drop the weaker riders.


I tried an attack with 34km to go, but instead I just gave Chris Froome a leadout.


Sergio Henao took a solo win.


Thibaut finished in the group.


Then I finished in the same time.

A bit of a tougher stage. Hopefully we'll be able to continue the form.

After the first climb, just 43 riders were left in the peloton. All of our climbing team were there.


A break finally formed with 7 riders. The peloton eventually got back together.


With 39km left Rolland attacked.


Atapuma went with Pinot, and Esteban protected me as we ventured forward.


Eventually it was Rolland and Costa in a group with Pinot.


With 20km left I was 47 seconds behind them. The break had a good lead and would easily win.


There was a 12 man favourites' group also catching up.


I was caught by Talansky and Mollema. No chance unfortunately to talk to the American about next year.


Up front the win came easily to Moreno.


Unfortunately Thibaut didn't quite have enough to stay with the other 2 who went with him. He was dropped 3.5km out from the line.


He eventually finished a solid 10th.


I came in 18th, directly behind John Darwin.


Rolland took Yellow.


And Thibaut went top of the Youth Rankings.

This could be a good stage for a certain Lithuanian. The easier finish should be beneficial.

There were initially 4 in the break, but after Casar was dropped, just Westra, Bos and Bakelants were left.


On the last climb, Thibaut and Rohan made a gap. I tried to join them.


I got there with 3km left, but we were at 1'08 to the leaders.


We decided that Thibaut would lead me out.


Romain Bardet took a home win up ahead.


I came in at the front of the next group for 4th. Brilliant!

So, a great result for me today. It seems the favourites haven't really started to care, so these are the days for us to get results. It worked today, and I'm proud to have 4th.


We got 3 riders in the Top 10 so a great stage for everyone.

This stage could be good for us with our punchy sprinters. Alec has been struggling with headaches of late though, and almost abandoned, so he might be left out of the sprint today.

Only 3 riders in the break: Gilbert, Serry and Thomas.


With 66km to go Virgilijus was brought down. Hopefully he wasn't affected.


We would soon find out. He got back, and Jarlinson would lead him out.


Unfortunately neither of them did well and we were nowhere near the front.


Marcel Kittel took a dominant stage win.

So we're into the mountains. Let's see what Thibaut can do.

8 riders went in the break today, but surely the mountain teams wouldn't let them stay away.


We tried our downhill attack train with Darwin and Esteban leading me and Thibaut. Rolland joined as well.


With 17km Thibaut and I were in the lead group of 19. Just being near him makes you more confident in your surroundings.


De Gendt was the last to be caught - 12km out. He was able to stay in the group which at this point was 13.


We worked to bring back the attacks. We couldn't afford to let anyone get an early advantage.


With 2km left I protected him. Things were looking promising.


1km out he just went straight past. It was brilliant to watch.


It looked like the stage win was in the bag. Could we even take the one-two as well?


Thibaut took a brilliant stage win and it was a photo for 2nd.


Atapuma won his group sprint as I waited for my result.


Unfortunately I didn't quite hold on. I was beaten by Spilak on the line, but what a result! Honestly this just about tops it for now! Brilliant!

This could be a good stage for us, hopefully the execution is there.

I was wearing the white jersey at the Tour de France. Yeah. The magnitude doesn't really hit you until you're in the race; but boy does it hit you. Sure I wasn't actually leading the classification, but it was still an amazing feeling.


8 riders went in the break.


With 55km to go, most of the more 2nd rate favourites went on the attack looking to join up with the morning escapees.


The main attacks came 12km out. Thibaut and I were staying up towards the front.


He attacked with 6.5km to go.


I was a little bit behind, trying to stay towards the right end of the group.


With 3.5km left he caught up to the 2nd main group. Wout Poels was leading by himself.


With 1km left Poels had 25 seconds. This would be interesting.


The Belkin man just took the win. Of course I didn't know about it at the time, but looking back on it now, it was freaking close.


I finished in the Yellow Jersey group, in 13th.

Back to the flat stages. Meh.

5 riders went in the break, but it was likely that the sprinters teams would have them back in good time.


There was still a long way to go - 121.7km - but there was a pretty important crash. Greipel, Gesink, Devenys and Theo Bos went down.


With 5km to go Alec was blocked. I decided to follow Cavendish because I was up there anyway and I felt like getting involved.


Alec managed to get back and he and Virgilijus followed the train that Sky made for Goss.


Kittel took a good win. He was the one we weren't following.


Somehow I was the team's best rider, in 10th! Yeah; don't ask. Alec was 19th and Virgilijus 20th.