Orica-Bike Exchange's Michael Matthews beat Peter Sagan in a sprint to the line to claim victory in the 10th stage of the 2016 Tour de France.
Following Monday's rest day, an enthralling start to Tuesday's stage from Escaldes-Engordany to Revel saw 13 riders make a move on the climb up the Port d'Envalira before forging an elite lead group which was never clawed back.
After the group had been trimmed to seven riders for the final 20km, Matthews timed his attack to perfection to cross the line first ahead of the winner of stage two, Peter Sagan (Tinkoff).
Orica trio amongst elite breakaway group
Alongside the likes of Vincenzo Nibali, Sagan, Tony Gallopin and Rui Costa, Matthews was involved in a group of 13 riders which battled it out for mountain points after crossing the first climb early in the stage, before forming a group which stayed out in the lead all day.
The Australian had two teammates up the road with him in the form of Daryl Impey and Luke Dudbridge which proved to be important in the final outcome.
Slovakia's World Champion Peter Sagan claimed the points available at the stage's intermediate sprint, before attacking with 24km left in the stage which split the 13-man group, with only six others able to maintain the pace.
Matthews and his two Orica teammates were amongst those able to bridge the gap to Sagan, as well as Edvald Boassan Hagen (Dimension Data), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R) and it soon became clear that the winner would come from the seven-man group after the peloton laid off the pace.
Matthews times sprint to perfection to claim first Tour victory
With three men in the lead group, Orica were in a position of strength and put in a number of mini-attacks meant to wear down the other riders.
Dudbridge tailed off and the group was reduced to six men, with Sagan still the favourite due to his sprinting prowess which had seen him regain the green jersey earlier in the stage.
After Van Avermaet made the first jump for victory well after the riders had gone under the 1km to go banner, Matthews followed the Belgian which proved to be a successful move.
With Sagan boxed in slightly and unable to launch a sprint, Matthews pedalled to victory, before celebrating his first stage victory at a Tour de France just before the line.
A quiet day in the peloton saw Chris Froome retain yellow, with Adam Yates still in white, and Thibaut Pinot remaining in polka dot tomorrow despite the attacks early on.