Gallery
Flurries of Attacks
The peloton had managed to stay together until the reached the edges of Nimes with the rather unusual exception that the two man break was still off of the front and seemingly not very willing to be caught. As they swung around the traffic furniture, opportunistic riders kept trying their luck at getting away. Niki Terpstra (OPQS) drove hard to catch up with Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff Saxo) as Peter Sagan (Cannondale) drove on the peloton in hopes of riding them all off of his wheel. Sagan is still searching for his first stage win in this Tour although he has proven his ownership of the most consistent sprinter's Green Jersey having finished in the top five in all but the mountain top finish thus far. Bennati had the misfortune of puncturing and had to pull off from his chance of a win. With Bennati unable to continue Terpstra's chance were rather reduced.