Démare unleashed a devastating final sprint to overhaul Ben Swift's early launch, as the lead group just reeled in a late attack from Trek's Edward Theuns, while yesterday's prologue winner Michael Matthews retained the yellow jersey, safely finishing fifth.
The peloton began in freezing cold, starting after an early morning snowfall but still offering little comfort to the riders. As the flag fell, four riders made an immediate break, Lotto-Soudal's Thomas de Gendt joined by three riders from wildcard teams in Perrig Quemeneur (DEN), Thierry Hupond (DMP) and Steven Tronet (FVC).
Within 40km the quartet had opened up a lead of five minutes, which opened up to near ten after an otherwise uneventful first half of the stage. The first intermediate sprint of the race was won by de Gendt, from Tronet and Hupond, with Quemeneur uninterested.
The break was reeled in gradually from around the halfway point, and they were caught as the race entered the two laps of dirt road which comprised the final 22km. The dirt sections had caused some upset with the GC contenders, them seeing it as an unnecessary risk in a race not usually containing off road, but they caused no major problems in the standings.
A group of 30, including Matthews, broke clear of the main peloton in the chase, first catching Tronet and Quemeneur, then Hupond, as de Gendt fought the inevitable. He was caught 3km later, using a few tight turns to prolong his defiance.
Almost immediately another break was attempted, with Pierre-Luc Périchon forging clear to take the first King of the Mountains points as he crested the category 3 Côte du Chemin du Tertre de la Motte.
He stretched his lead to 15 seconds as he crossed the finish line with a lap to go, also taking intermediate sprint honours. In the bunch, Alberto Contador attacked the sprint, but was beaten by Michael Matthews, gaining himself two bonus seconds, and Sky's Geraint Thomas.
Orica-GreenEDGE kept the pace up to defend Michael Matthews' yellow jersey, and Périchon was caught 9km from the end. The lead group stretched as they climbed the Côte du Chemin du Tertre de la Motte for the second time, Geraint Thomas looking to break clear and pick up time more than KotM points.
He was second over the top, behind Ion Izaguirre (MOV), as Marcel Kittel dropped off the back on the climb, falling out of contention for the sprint.
A bunch sprint was the last thing on Edward Theuns' mind, the Trek man looking to use the technical finish to his advantage with an attack from 2km out. He had a few seconds over the group under the flamme rouge, but he ran out of steam a few hundred metres short of glory.
Cannondale pushed three riders towards the front of the chase, including overall 3rd placed Patrick Bevin, but none of them could hold the pace enough to feature. Sky's Ben Swift was first to pass Theuns, launching his sprint 250m from the line, but it was a fraction too early, as Démare swept past metres from the line.
Swift did manage to hold off Nacer Bouhanni and Adrien Petit, who attempted to follow Démare, while Michael Matthews didn't quite have enough to challenge after his tilt at the intermediate sprint, but still had a successful day, as he extended his lead to 3 seconds in the GC standings.
ASO/B. Bade
Stage winner Arnaud Démare (FDJ)"I'm super happy. It was a hard day with the snowflakes. It was tiring, especially the little lanes in the finale. We were not that many in the end. It's a victory I had been waiting for for a long time."
Stage results
1. Arnaud Démare (FDJ) 4:29:53
2. Ben Swift (SKY) + :00
3. Nacer Bouhanni (COF) + :00
General Classification
1. Michael Matthews (OGE) 4:37:30
2. Tom Dumoulin (TGA) + ;03
3. Patrick Bevin (CPT) + :04
4. Ion Izaguirre (MOV) + :08
5. Geraint Thomas (SKY) + :08
6. Lieuwe Westra (AST) + :09
7. Dries Devenyns (IAM) +:10
8. Richie Porte (BMC) +:12
9. Arnaud Démare (FDJ) +:14
10. Wilco Kelderman (TLJ) +:15
King of the Mountains
1. Ion Izaguirre (MOV) 4
2. Pierre-Luc Perrichon (FVC) 4
3. Geraint Thomas (SKY) 2
Points Classification
1. Michael Matthews (OGE) 23
2. Arnaud Démare (FDJ) 15
3. Tom Dumoulin (TGA) 12
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