There was no suggestion the peloton would be easing their way back into the racing after the second rest day, and the pace was super-high with the stage heading uphill from the start.

British champion Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) was among those trying to get a gap early on, but attacks were plentiful and Team Sky martialled the peloton in the early stages as nobody got clear.

When a break did form, the considerable firepower of Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie) and Thomas de Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) powered it, along with Thomas Degand (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Nicolas Edet (Cofidis).

As news filtered through that green jersey Marcel Kittel (QuickStep Floors) was in trouble, however, Michael Matthews and Team Sunweb hit the front and turned the heat on.

Kittel’s group, with team-mates Fabio Sabatini and Julien Vermote pulling hard, nearly got back on but Team Sunweb kept the pace high and reaped their rewards as the second group was distanced again.

George Bennett (LottoNL-Jumbo), 12^th overall at the start of the day, was another victim of the pace and abandoned after being dropped early by both groups – his team citing illness.

Sunweb would not be denied, however – Matthews was delivered to the front, before Olympic champion Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing) opened up the sprint.

Degenkolb and Matthews kicked with 250m to go, while Boasson Hagen – looking for a Mandela Day win for Africa’s team – was just off Degenkolb’s wheel.

Mathews proved fastest, however, winning by a wheel ahead of Boasson Hagen to pay back his team’s efforts on the stage in perfect style.

In the general classification, meanwhile, the top four overall all finished safely together, with fifth-placed Martin the day’s biggest loser as he dropped to seventh.

Yates, meanwhile, now sits sixth overall and holds a 3’58” advantage over Louis Meintjes (UAE Team Emirates) in the youth classification.

Tour de France 2017: stage 16 – report

1) Michael Matthews (AUS) – Team Sunweb – 3.38.15hrs
2) Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) – Dimension Data – ST
3) John Degenkolb (GER) – Trek-Segafredo
4) Greg van Avermaet (BEL) – BMC Racing
5) Christophe Laporte (FRA) – Cofidis
6) Jens Keukeleire (BEL) – Orica-Scott
7) Tony Gallopin (FRA) – Lotto-Soudal
8) Tiesj Benoot (BEL) – Lotto-Soudal
9) Maciej Bodnar (POL) – Bora-hansgrohe
10) Romain Hardy (FRA) – Fortuneo-Oscaro

General classification

1) Chris Froome (GBR) – Team Sky – 68.18.36hrs
2) Fabio Aru (ITA) – Astana +18”
3) Romain Bardet (FRA) – Ag2r-La Mondiale +23”
4) Rigoberto Uran (COL) – Cannondale-Drapac +29”
5) Mikel Landa (ESP) – Team Sky +1.17
6) Simon Yates (GBR) – Orica-Scott +2.02
7) Dan Martin (IRL) – QuickStep Floors +2.03
8) Louis Meintjes (RSA) – UAE Team Emirates +6.00
9) Damiano Caruso (ITA) – BMC Racing +6.05
10) Nairo Quintana (COL) – Movistar +6.16