Axel Laurance and Sam Watson pushed on off the front in a bid to make a decisive breakaway on the penultimate stage of the Tour de France.
The INEOS Grenadiers were active during the rolling 184.2-kilometre stage 20, with Tobias Foss among those trying to make the early break.
Watson tried to bridge across to a 13-man breakaway, but his two-man move was eventually hauled back by a Cofidis-led peloton. Shortly after that the peloton would sit up briefly, allowing the day’s break to open out their gap ahead.
Later, Laurance pushed on up the steep Cote de Thesy climb, instigating a number of counter attacks. Eventually Laurance was reeled back in, with Kaden Groves (Alpecin – Deceuninck) ultimately holding on to win the stage solo.
The peloton, including the INEOS Grenadiers, would roll in seven minutes back. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates – XRG) will head into Paris on Sunday with a lead of 4:24, while Thymen Arensman retains 12th place overall.