Ag2r-La Mondiale rode a clever tactical race for Bardet, putting three men up the road in the day’s large breakaway – Jan Bakelants, Mickael Cherel and Ben Gastauer – where Pinot was also present.

Attacks were frequent further back too, with Contador looking to prise back time overall after losing the yellow jersey on stage five as he and team-mate Jasper Hansen instigated a strong move on the Madeleine.

Dayer Quintana (Movistar), Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), Bjorn Thurau (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Fabio Aru (Astana) followed Contador but the move – as dangerous as it potentially looked – proved to be short-lived.

Team Sky did the work to bring it back – their efforts also significantly stripping the peloton to size on the Madeleine’s fierce slopes.

Riders were also dropped from the breakaway, which now numbered 17 but still boasted the three Ag2r-La Mondiale men and Pinot.

Criterium du Dauphine 2016: stage seven – result

1) Thibaut Pinot (FRA) – FDJ – 4.24.16hrs
2) Romain Bardet (FRA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale – ST
3) Daniel Martin (IRL) – Etixx-QuickStep +1.04
4) Chris Froome (GBR) – Team Sky +1.07
5) Louis Meintjes (RSA) – Lampre-Merida +1.15
6) Alberto Contador (ESP) – Tinkoff – ST
7) Diego Rosa (ITA) – Astana +1.17
8) Adam Yates (GBR) – Orica-GreenEDGE – ST
9) Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) – Etixx-QuickStep +1.21
10) Richie Porte (AUS) – BMC Racing – ST

General classification

1) Chris Froome (GBR) – Team Sky – 25.50.22hrs
2) Richie Porte (AUS) – BMC Racing +21”
3) Romain Bardet (FRA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale – ST
4) Daniel Martin (IRL) – Etixx-QuickStep +30”
5) Alberto Contador (ESP) – Tinkoff +35”
6) Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) – Etixx-QuickStep +56”
7) Adam Yates (GBR) – Orica-GreenEDGE +1.02
8) Diego Rosa (ITA) – Astana +1.18
9) Louis Meintjes (RSA) – Lampre-Merida +1.35
10) Thibaut Pinot (FRA) – FDJ +2.12