Laurance fires to ninth after breakaway from Thomas

Axel Laurance came home in ninth place after Geraint Thomas spent most of the seventh stage in the break at the Tour de France.

A rapid first hour saw the riders average 54km per hour, with countless attacks but none that were able to stick. Finally, a group of five managed to get away with 140km to go, spearheaded by Thomas.

The Welshman was on the front foot in the break, but a strong pace from the peloton ensured the largest advantage they had was one minute and 40 seconds with 100km to go. Thomas continued to work hard and push on the front of the group, before being distanced up the first categorised climb inside the final 20km.

Thomas rejoined the peloton on the first ascent up the Mûr-de-Bretagne as attacks came thick and fast.

As the group of favourites pushed on the front up the final climb to the finish, Laurance managed to cling on and crossed the line in ninth place.

Carlos Rodriguez finished in 15th place after being well protected all day, and moved up to 15th on the GC.