Greig Leach

The frustration level was building as those holding first through third on the general classification sparred on the climb up to Pontives. Once Nairo Quintana (Movistar) had been pulled back by the group, it was Vincenzo Nibali's (Bahrain-Merida) turn to attack the Maglia Rosa. He too, met Quintana's fate, when Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) attacked them all. Once he had been pulled back, Quintana went again. The trio eventually reached an uneasy truce as those lower down on the GC decided to attack the weary warriors. After the race, Dumoulin had some choice words about Quintana and Nibali letting the others escape up the road. Not quite the gallantry he had showed a few stages back.