Sam Bennett's Tour lead-out "still a work in progress", says team | Video

Biniam Girmay took his second stage win of Tour de France today as Ireland's Sam Bennett continues his search for a sprint that might bring a victory

Sam Bennett is still looking for a finishing kick - and a strong lead-out - that might produce a stage-winning effort at the Tour de France after hitting the front too early in today's finish and then fading on the uphill kick to the line.

In what was a rolling final 2km into Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, after 183.4km of racing, Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) timed his effort to perfection, and proved strongest, to claim his second stage win.

And though Ireland's Bennett had Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale team mate, Oliver Naesen, deep into the final, he dropped Bennett off at the front with 1km to go. That would be much too early in any scenario but today, given the undulating nature of the finish, it left Bennett with no chance.

The Irish rider tried his best to surf the wheels, and slot in behind other riders. But he looked laboured when the sprint finally began and dropped backwards, with his team conceding at the finish his lead-out still needed more work.

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"Our lead-out train is still a work in progress and our timing wasn't right today," the team said on social media. "Tomorrow, a thrilling stage awaits us in the vineyards," it added of Sunday's 199km stage - into Troyes - with gravel sectors.

Bennett eventually finished 27th, two places ahead of compatriot Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost), who had tried to get up the road early but was chased down.

The stage came down to a bunch sprint after Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) spent 170km on the attack, with EF Education-EasyPost duo Stefan Bissegger and Neilson Powless initially for company before the dropped back to the bunch.

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Their decision to return to the peloton left Abrahamsen, in the polka dot jersey, to battle on alone, though he was caught with 15km remaining.

After he was recaptured, the long slog to the finish, after a downpour, began with Girmay eventually winning the sprint from Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny).

There was no change in the overall, with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) still in yellow, by 33 seconds from Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep). Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike), the defending champion, is 3rd at 1:15.

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