GERMANY’S MARCEL KITTEL sprinted to his second stage victory at this year’s Tour de France — and his 11th overall — winning Thursday’s 216km race from Vesoul to Troyes.
But it was business as usual in the general classification with Chris Froome retaining the yellow jersey as all of the leading contenders finished in the main bunch.
Froome’s only scare came around 100km from the finish when he had to dodge a flying umbrella that blew into the road and across his path.
Kittel held off France’s Arnaud Demara and his fellow German Andre Greipel in the 1-2-3 sprint to the line. Ireland’s Nicolas Roche finished 37th with Dan Martin in 52nd.
Martin (+0:25) remains fourth in the race for the yellow jersey behind Team Sky duo Froome and Geraint Thomas (+0:12), and Astana’s Fabio Aru (+0:14).
Friday’s stage sees the peloton cycle a flat 213.5km from Troyes to Nuits-Saint-Georges before Saturday’s summit finish in Station des Rousses.
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