With just over 20km to go, the lead duo were finally swallowed up by the peloton. As the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team were setting a strong pace on the front of the peloton, the bunch was splitting up drastically behind as it neared the summit of the final climb and the subsequent descent towards the finish line.
Despite all the Decathlon team's hard work, it was Romain Bardet who was looking to benefit and attacked the descent opening up a few gaps in his wheel. As they reached the flat, just six riders held the front of the race. Alongside Bardet, Geraint Thomas,
Chris Harper, Antonio Tiberi, Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier and
Esteban Chaves. With just over 9km to go, another five joined them at the front, Ben O'Connor, Tobias Foss, Wout Poels, Valentin Paret-Peintre and Juan Pedro Lopez.
The cooperation wasn't brilliant though with some riders refusing to pull. With another chase group just 14 seconds down as they entered the final 5km, the lack of committal by some in the lead group was seemingly proving costly.
Into the final kilometre, the attacking riding had stretched the gap to 22 seconds and actually caused a small split in the lead group. In the sprint for the line, Chris Harper opened things up but Tobias Foss powered around for his first win in
INEOS Grenadiers colours. Chaves taking third.