Michael Matthews took an incredible stage victory into Mendes after taking on his rivals from a long way out on Tour de France stage 14 and then seeing off a late surge by best of the rest, Alberto Bettiol.
The Australian stage winner riding for BikeExchange-Jayco - a very fast finisher but also versatile road man - last won on the Tour four years ago, when he took two stage victories in three days and also claimed the green jersey into Paris.
Since then he has collected nine Grand Tour stage podium placings - including two 2nd places on this year's Tour - but he finally broke through today and did it the hard way; by attacking solo from a long way out and then prevailing on the tough finishing climb before the runway finish into Mende.
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Matthews was part of the 25-rider breakaway that got clear on the Côte da Châtaignier after 40km, following a frantic start to the day that saw relentless attacks - including from 2nd placed overall Tadej Pogačar (UAE Emirates). The peloton split to pieces and for once Jumbo Visma looked a little vulnerable as Primoz Roglic was among their riders to fall behind on the wrong side of the splits.
When Pogačar attacked there was still 180km remaining on the stage and yellow jersey Jonas Vingegaard only had Jumbo Visma team mate Wout van Aert to make sure the remains of the peloton kept regrouping after the attacks.
However, when the large breakaway finally went, the pace in the peloton eased right back and even the group of Roglic - which was two minute back the road - joined the front section of the peloton.
As the grouping took place and a period of calm unfolded - before Jumbo Visma began riding on the front - the breakaway's advantage grew out to over 10 minutes.
Matthews later took it up off the front of the breakaway with about 50km to go; attacking hard with about 50km to go and building an advantage of about 30 seconds on the breakaway. After about 10km plugging away on his own he was joined by three others: Felix Großschartner, Luis Leon Sanchez (Bahrain Victorious) and Andreas Kron (Lotto-Soudal).
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They then went on to tackle the Côte de la Fage, with Kron puncturing out of the leading quartet on the descent, leaving three up front with a gap of 40 seconds on the remainder of the original breakaway as they raced under the 10km to go banner.
When Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) attacked from the chasing group on the climb to Mende, it split that group to pieces and the gap to the three leaders was reduced. However, Matthews then made his move up front with 3.5km to go and neither Großschartner nor Sanchez could respond.
However, as the 31-year-old Australian battled up the climb - clearly in the form of his life - Bettiol attacked from behind and bridged across to them. The Italian, with a Tour of Flanders win in his palmares, caught Matthews with well over 1km to go on the climb and very gradually distanced him.
However, Matthews battled back to him and as soon as he got back on terms, and the road evened out, he attacked and dropped him; having far too much power for Bettiol once the gradient was more level.
Matthews then powered his way to the finish to take an incredible win; celebrating for a prolonged period before the line with a mixture of disbelief, joy and relief; winning the day by 15 seconds from Bettiol.
Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) charged up the final climb from the remains of the breakaway and claimed 3rd at 34 seconds with Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) in 4th at 50 seconds.
A total of 22 of the breakaway men survived today - stretched over 11 minutes. Behind them, Pogačar attacked from the remains of the peloton on the final climb but was easily marked every inch of the way by Vingegaard; those two pulling out time on the rest of the GC men.
David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and Nairo Quintana (Arkéa Samsic) finished together some 17 seconds behind
Pogačar and Vingegaard. The race takes in a long, but less demanding, 202km stage to Carcassonne tomorrow, where the sprinters might get a chance.
