 The day's breakaway was initiated at the front of the day's opening climb, the Côte de Morgins, with the initial move being made by Team Europcar rider David Veilleux. Veilleux was later joined by Euskaltel – Euskadi's Ricardo García, Argos – Shimano rider Thomas Damuseau and Jean-Marc Bideau of Bretagne – Séché Environnement, and the quartet built up a maximum lead on the road of around ten minutes. Behind them, Tony Martin (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) set off in pursuit of the four leaders, but was not able to reach the lead group at any point. Veilleux attacked on the Col du Corbier, and managed to break away by 40 seconds from García and Damuseau – Bideau had been dropped earlier on the climb – in 2 km (1.2 mi) to the top of the climb. Veilleux remained well clear into the closing stages, and eventually came across the line to take the biggest win of his career – his first win at World Tour level – by almost two minutes. In doing so, Veilleux claimed the race lead in the general, points and mountains classifications. The remaining members of the breakaway were caught, and this allowed Martin's team-mate Gianni Meersman to take second, ahead of Blanco Pro Cycling's Tom-Jelte Slagter, who was the best-placed young rider.
