Dylan Groenewegen won stage seven of the Tour de France in Chalon-sur-Saone as Giulio Ciccone retained the yellow jersey.
Jumbo-Visma’s Groenewegen edged out Lotto-Soudal’s Caleb Ewan on the line at the end of the 230km stage from Belfort.
The bunch sprint meant no change at the top of the general classification standings, with Trek-Segafredo’s Ciccone still six seconds clear of Deceuninck-Quick Step’s Julian Alaphilippe.
Defending champion Geraint Thomas of Team Ineos remains the best-placed of the main contenders, fifth overall and 49 seconds down on Ciccone, who took yellow with second place on La Planche des Belles Filles on Thursday.
Friday was a much less dramatic affair, with the longest stage of the Tour raced at relatively sedate pace as riders let their legs recover.
Wanty-Gobert’s Yoann Offredo and Cofidis’ Stephane Rossetto attacked from the flag and the good friends might have imagined they were out on a training ride as they easily pulled more than five minutes clear in the first 20 kilometres.
The peloton was barely ticking behind, though the race finally began to come to life in the final 30 kilometres.
There was a moment of panic for Nairo Quintana and Dan Martin as the speed ramped up ahead of the intermediate sprint, leaving them in a group distanced on the road before Quintana’s Movistar team sent a rescue force to pace them back.
The pack then came barrelling into town, where Groenewegen – left limping by an opening stage crash – showed he was back on form with his fourth career Tour stage win.
