Rowe, 25, was Sky’s highest-placed finisher at Paris-Roubaix this year, finishing eighth, but his job on stage four of the Tour was to protect race leader Chris Froome.
And while the yellow jersey ultimately changed hands, with stage winner Tony Martin claiming the race lead, Rowe did that job with aplomb as Froome finished with his fellow GC rivals in the front group.
The Welshman led Froome across the early secteurs of bone-shaking pave before compatriot Geraint Thomas took over proceedings for the final run-in.
Take a closer look at Rowe’s cobbles bike, the Pinarello Dogma K8-S, in the gallery below.
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