Jerome Pineau was the last Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider remaining in a huge escape group on Sunday, and while he continuously tried to escape a nine rider pack up until the final kilometers, he was unable to maintain more than a double digit second gap before being caught at Les Boucles Du Sud-Ardèche. It was Remi Pauriol (FDJ) who was able to get away from the group with less than 3 km to go, and he ended up with thw race victory. Arthur Vichot (FDJ) was second, and Ion Izaguirre was third. "It was a hard race only with only 32 riders at the finish," Sport Director Davide Bramati said. "The wind was really a factor during the race. However the team had a good race. Pineau was 5th at the end but he was one of the great protagonists of the race. "Jeje" attacked on the last climb but he was caught just before the top from the riders who there were in the breakaway with him. Even Kevin De Weert had a good race. Iljo Keisse was in the early breakaway and he did a good job."
Kevin De Weert, Iljo Keisse, Michal Golas and Pineau made the original large escape group, which formed with a little more than 60km to go. However, that group soon splintered and it was only De Weert and Pineau who made the front split.
De Weert continued to try and escape until less than 20km remained, but was caught. He gained about a 10 second gap on the front group at one point.