A sweltering day in Cholet delivered an intriguing team time trial. BMC won the battle of the big guns claiming victory by four seconds, negating Richie Porte‘s time loss and delivering the yellow jersey to Greg Van Avermaet for the second time in his career. Team Sky‘s second place moved Geraint Thomas up to third overall. Quick-Step Floors took third despite a crisis on the sharp climb that saw them in complete disarray.
