This is considered a stage for the sprinters and they should be relatively comfortable with 20km between the final Cat 3 KOM and the finish line. There is another Cat 3 and 2 Cat 2 climbs as well.
The first KOM over the Col de Gassin comes very early on and we don't have a set breakaway but Lammertink, Waeytens and Kruiswijk take the points.
An interesting duo are allowed to get away from the Peloton and have a gap of 2'14 with 132km of racing still to go. Koretzky and Waeytens are the 2 riders who are both very capable puncheurs but both more than 3 minutes off the GC lead.
The first Cat 3 of the day is a 9.8km climb up the Col de la Garde Freinet. Koretzky easily gets away from his breakaway companion to take maximum points. Waeytens is the Leader by a single point over the Frenchman.
Waeytens appears to surprise the Frenchman as he comes over the top of the 3rd KOM ahead and increases his lead in the KOM. 50km to go and the gap is currently 2'13.
40km to go and the gap for the leading duo is down to 1'16. The Peloton has really upped the pace which is seeing gaps. Will we see some GC contenders ruled out today?
Over the final KOM of the day and Waeytens wins it again! These two still hold a lead of 54 seconds with 20km to go.
15km to the line and still a gap of 44 seconds, will they be able to hold out for the win?
Koretzky holds out an extra kilometer but is caught at the last intermediate sprint 10km from the finish.
6km to go and the sprinters are all here. Not much going on in terms of lead-outs though.
3km now to go. On the right-hand side we have Hsu with a lead-out and then Stepniak. Through the main line of riders we have Rowe with a lead-out, Bewley with support, Pedersen with two team mates and then all other sprinters on their own.
1.5km to go and Bewley and Co may have missed the boat here as 5 others go off under the kite!
Rowe still has 1 lead-out in front of him and then Stepniak, Hsu and Young along for the ride.
Rowe riding off into the sunset with 800m to go!
Rowe still leading with 400m to go but Bewley and others are coming through with speed.
The last 200m are actually uphill at a slope of 2-3% which is bringing everyone else into the fight and really testing Rowe and Young who are still 1-2.
Rowe celebrates very early but it looks like Scully, amongst others, will pass him on the line!
Indeed it is Scully who wins it! Kalaba and Bewley round out the podium. Rowe only manages 4th in the end with Aregger 5th and Kamberaj 6th.
Pedersen is 7th ahead of De Buyst and Young. Harrison completes the Top 10.
Debesay moves into the Yellow Jersey. Scully leads the Points by 1 ahead of Bewley. Waeytens in the KOM lead. Menten maintains U25s lead. Generali are still the leading team.
