Lilian Calmejane took a stunning solo win on a brutal, breathless stage jam-packed with action from the get go. The Direct Energie tyro would not be denied on his Tour de France debut. Attacking all day before pulling clear from a small group on the final climb with 18km to go, and surviving a bout of cramp on the run in. He was stalked all the way by a dogged Robert Gesink (LottoNL-Jumbo) who just could not close him down. Wanty Groupe Gobert’s Guillaume Martin topped a fabulous day for the young French hopes by sprinting to third from the GC group. Overall GC remains unchanged with Chris Froome still in yellow despite a little off-road excursion.
