The answer to Geraint Thomas' (Ineos-Grenadiers) implied question is "yes." He had gotten enough of an advantage leading to the final meters of the stage that he had just enough to stay ahead of the fast closing sprinters. His move left Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Victorious) to take his fourth mass sprint, but yet again the sprint was for second place. Rounding out the top five were Alex Aranburu (Astana-Premier Tech) - who was third for yet another stage-, Carlos Bargero (Qhubeka-ASSOS), and Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Israel Start Up Nation). The current Maillot Jaune, Lukas Postlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) owes a debt of gratitude to these sprinters their closing of the gap to Thomas meant that he gained no more than the bonus seconds for finishing first. Had he kept the gap he opened up and 500 meters he most likely have been the next leader of the Dauphine. As it was the 10 second time bonus moved him up to 6th place in the general classification, just 16 seconds behind Postlberger. And it moved him to the highest ranking amongst his teammates as well, but only by two seconds.
I'm sure the climbing to come will open up much larger gaps on the general classification.
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