Intermarché-Circus-Wanty rider Rune Herregodts was the last man standing from the day's breakaway and after a truly heroic effort, he began to tire and look behind him as the peloton came roaring back. Still, it seemed as if he had done just enough to take the win but Laporte had other ideas, snatching the victory within the final few metres as Herregodts held on for third.
"It's nice to wear the yellow and I'll try to do justice to the jersey," concludes Laporte who of course now leads the general classification of the race after taking the opening stage.