Bouhanni secures second stage scalp

FDJ's Bouhanni held off a late rally from Australian Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) to take his second stage win of the race, with a revived Peter Sagan (Cannondale), the green jersey John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) and Greg Henderson (Lotto Belisol) completing the top five.

There was no change in the general classification despite strong crosswinds wrecking havoc on the peloton towards the end of the largely flat 207km stage from Baeze.

Race favourite Nairo Quintana (Movistar) was the most high profile rider to be caught out - but the Colombian fought back on to retain his second place on GC, 15 seconds behind team-mate Alejandro Valverde of Spain.

"Everyone wanted to be on the front during the splits in the wind," Bouhanni, 24, said. "My team-mate Geoffroy Soupe kept me safe but I was scared I'd be left behind.

"I decided to go early in the final sprint, which made it hard, but I had good legs. Two wins is a good return so far - especially seeing that I was close to abandoning two days ago."

Bouhanni, who will join French second tier team Cofidis at the end of the season, made his move with four-hundred metres remaining, slingshotting himself from the wheel of Belgian Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) before zipping clear of the field.

Matthews was the only rider able to return to the Frenchman's wheel, but a late deviation from his line, although unintentional, saw Bouhanni block out the threat with the finish line gaping.

The Australian - also looking for his second win of the race - managed to hold his balance to take second place in a tight finish, two bike lengths ahead of third place Sagan of Slovakia.

TWO-MAN BREAK: Italian Elia Favilli (Lampre-Merida) and serial escapee Javier Aramendia of Spain (Caja Rural) broke clear from the peloton shortly after the start of the stage. The duo held a maximum lead of seven and a half minutes over the pack before being reeled in with 40km remaining.

The Tinkoff-Saxo team of Alberto Contador then came to the front and, alongside Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) and Boonen, forced numerous splits in the blustery crosswinds.

None of the GC favourites or top sprinters were caught out in the initial echelons, with the two front groups rejoining with 15km remaining. But a second acceleration from Tinkoff-Saxo brought about another split with 11km remaining - this time distancing the likes of Quintana, Degenkolb and Cancellara.

Surrounded by Giant-Shimano team-mates - including ninth place Warren Barguil, victim of a nasty spill in the home straight on Saturday - Degenkolb was able fight back on to the main pack alongside the Colombian winner of the Giro d'Italia.

The scene was perfectly set for a mass bunch sprint - and Bouhanni proved the strongest.

RIDE OF THE DAY: Chapeau to Frenchman Bouhanni, who took the win after missing out on Friday and suffering so badly on Thursday's summit finish. That said, it's a bit rich for someone who complained so bitterly about Degenkolb riding off his line in a bunch sprint to do exactly the same - if not, worse - just one day later. Riders have been disqualified for less.

DAY TO FORGET: Quintana showed an achilles heel in being distanced in the split. His team-mate, the red jersey Valverde, was, of course, riding safely in the first group. Could frictions between the two riders come into play during the remainder of the race?

COMING UP: A second summit finish as the race heads to the ski station of Aramon Valderlinares for the 185km stage nine from Carboneras de Guadazaon. Two flat plateaus are followed by two lower-category climbs and then the Cat.1 rise to the finish in a stage that should see the main favourites come out to play.