He had tried his luck at Laruns on Sunday before being picked up a few hundred meters from the finish (3rd).
He almost beat Julian Alaphilippe in the final of the second stage in Nice.
If there was to be a prize for perseverance on the Tour, it would be promised to Swiss Marc Hirschi (Sunweb) who tried his luck again this Thursday on the road between Chauvigny and Sarran.
In a stage which paid homage to Raymond Poulidor, Antoine Blondin and Jacques Chirac at the same time, the 22-year-old Swiss showed that he was very strong, a good climber and a remarkable descender.
Left alone 28 km from the line in the rise of Suc au May, Hirschi this time did not give up despite the pressure that Julian Alaphilippe came to put on him in the last five kilometers.
But this one, Hirschi who is playing his first Tour, did not steal it.
Note also the beautiful second place of Pierre Rolland (BB Hotels).
The victory of the Swiss does not change the general classification.
In yellow since leaving the Pyrenees, Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) is still in yellow.
The Slovenian had a day as peaceful as the previous ones.
What to gain strength before attacking the Massif Central and the Alps next week.
Newsletter - Most of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le Parisien
I'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to enable you to receive our news and commercial offers.
Learn more
<More information to come