Sam Welsford 10th in hectic sprint finish to Moulins

After yesterday’s attacking stage, the peloton were intent to set up a sprint finish into Moulins where after a hectic finale, Team dsm-firmenich’s Sam Welsford took tenth place.

Rolling out from Clermont-Ferrand this afternoon there was a chance that a big break made up of strong rouleurs could go to the line, but after an exciting opening few minute flurry of attacks, eventually a three rider group rolled off and the sprint teams were happy to block it up. Getting through the day well and looking after each other, the Team dsm-firmenich riders had their eyes on the finale and setting up a sprint. Navigating some potential crosswind danger, it was all back together heading into the last ten kilometres. The team moved forward en masse to the front, but it was a hectic run-in to the line and the clichéd “washing machine effect” was on full display, making holding position tough. Trying to fight back to the front under the flamme rouge, Nils Eekhoff and Alex Edmondson brought Sam Welsford back onto the main cluster of sprinters. Launching from deep, Welsford was able to come past some competitors in the finale and take tenth at the line.

Team dsm-firmenich coach Matt Winston said: “It was a nervous day because everyone was a little worried about there maybe being potential crosswinds but nothing ever materialised. The guys stayed as a tight bubble which was good. After a town with around ten kilometres to go we really took a good spot there with a good position at the front of the peloton. When the speed went up we just lost that little bit of bite to hold the first positions. Sam again had to sprint from behind a bit, and he finished tenth and came with good speed. I think we showed some good teamwork but we just need to keep making steps to hold that position in the last five kilometres.”