Fabio Aru won the stage to La Planche des Belles Filles. Chris Froome took the lead in the overall from team-mate Geraint Thomas. 

“Robert did an amazing job by dropping me off in a good position at the foot of the last climb,” Bennett said. “I suffered from a side cramp and had to let the group go. I expected more from myself, but I did not show it today. I hope for better days in the coming mountain stages."

“It is a shame that I suffered from a stupid problem like a side cramp. The last five days they pushed it really hard and I think they will do the same for the coming 16 days.” 

“It went how we expected, really,” Robert Gesink said. “We thought that a breakaway would not make it today and it would be up to the bunch. I was tried to put George and Roglic in good position at the foot of the climb.” 

Gesink was clear about his goals for this year's Tour de France. 

“I used the first week to ride into this Tour. I will focus my goals and further down the road in the Tour. I have a plan with a certain goal. For now, that plan is going well."

“It was not the plan to be in the breakaway today. My goal is to be in the breakaways that I select when I’m ready to be upfront. I want to be in the breakaway in the real mountain stages and not in a stage with a short ramp in the end.”