Dutchman Lars Boom did his own rain dance as he brilliantly claimed the wet and cobbled 152.5km stage from Ypres in Belgium to Arenberg du Porte Hainaut, but the big winner was Vincenzo Nibali.
Expertly marshalled by his Astana teammate Jakob Fuglsang, the Italian came home in third, 19sec behind Boom, but put significant time into all his main rivals for the final victory in Paris.
Belkin rider Boom said: “I was smiling already this morning when I looked outside and saw rain.
“It was important for me because my contract ends this year and for the team because we’ve lost our sponsor (for next year).
“It was a special day and a heroic day to see, especially with the rain and cobbles and mud.”
After Chris Froome’s withdrawal, the next biggest loser was Alberto Contador, who trailed in 2min 54sec behind Boom and is now 19th overall and 2:37 behind Nibali.
The other overall contenders didn’t fare much better, though, as world champion Rui Costa, Spaniard Alejandro Valverde and American Tejay Van Garderen are now all 2:11 back. Criterium du Dauphine winner Andrew Talansky is 2:05 off the pace, although an eye should be kept on young Pole Michal Kwiatkowski who is just 50sec back.
“It’s a good advantage over Contador but there’s a long way to go to Paris,” said Nibali.
“I have to stay calm and have a good race and a good strategy for the coming stages.”
Froome was one of the first riders to fall but there were crashes all over the slippery wet roads during the first half of the race.
Van Garderen, Valverde and sprinters Marcel Kittel, who won three of the first four stages, Alexander Kristoff and Andre Greipel all went down.
