Gianni Verstrynge is now pulling the bunch in a bid to keep Jonathan Milan and Tim Merlier adrift. Verstrynge's Alpecin-Deceuninck team-mate Kaden Groves is another potential contender for the stage win later. Jonathan Milan and Tim Merlier, who have both won Tour stages this year, are struggling after that climb.

By Julien Pretot VALENCE, France (Reuters) -Italian Jonathan Milan claimed his second victory in this year's Tour de France when he won a crash-disrupted sprint in the 17th stage on Wednesday. Milan prevailed in a 10-man sprint after the peloton was held up behind a massive crash with just one kilometre to go as riders went down on slippery roads in a rainy finish in southeastern France.

When the reigning champion suffered a 40 mph crash, his title defense was in jeopardy. Until a man in blue overalls jumped off his motorbike and leapt into action.