Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team, with two riders in the top 10 GC, and a likely sprint finish well suited for a rider like Gerald Ciolek, worked at the front to pull back a six rider break with 7km remaining. However, a late attack spoiled the tremendous teamwork.
Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) won in a three-up sprint, beating Jerome Coppel (Saur-Sojasun) and Andrey Kachechkin (Astana Pro Team) in a bike throw with a charging peloton behind them at the end of the 187km race from Seyssins to Saint-Vallier on Monday. Ciolek, in the field sprint behind, took 7th.
Tony Martin sits in 5th overall, just 4" back, while Sylvain Chavanel is 7th, 5" back. The team looks ahead to a 160km stage on Tuesday, with Ciolek also in the top 20 overall (13th, +08").