As predicted the GC contenders took quite a laid back approach to this stage letting an early breakaway group storm to a 15 minute lead on the peloton. The group was eventually whittled down to 5 riders which included Luis Leon Sanchez , Peter Sagan, Sandy Casar, Gorka Izagirre and Philippe Gilbert. The main drama of the day happened back in the main group as several riders punctured under suspicious circumstances while scaling the Mur de Peguere. Evans had a total of 3 punctures altogether and had to wait 1’15” before help arrived. In an act of sportsmanship, Wiggins tried to keep the tempo of the peloton down but Rollands of Europcar had other plans as he made a solo attack which amounted to nothing. With 11.5km to go, Sanchez attacked the breakaway group, fearing a sprint win over Sagan would not be possible. No one went with the Spaniard who soloed to the win. The peloton rolled in about 15 minutes later, but kept things slow enough that Evans and BMC were able to catch up with them.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMiLfbCYvNc]