It was a difficult day for, the hitherto so successful, Danes in the Tour de France.
Magnus Cort Nielsen tested positive for covid-19 and did not start at all.
Jakob Fuglsang broke a rib.
And last but not least, Jonas Vingegaard lost two important teammates.
In addition, Mads Pedersen was beaten in a cluster sprint for the stage victory, which the Belgian Jasper Philipsen took in front of compatriot Wout van Aert.
Before Pedersen secured third place.
Jonas Vingegaard retains the yellow jersey in the Tour de France.
But the stage between Rodez and Carcassone could prove crucial.
Vingegaard, who fell about 55 km from the finish, still leads by 2 minutes 22 seconds.
Behind him chase Tadej Pogacar and Geraint Thomas.
He and his stablemate in Jumbo Visma, Tiesj Benoot, fell and Vingegaard had to take a new bike.
It took almost ten minutes to regain contact with the cluster.
Two help riders away on a board
However, the Dane undoubtedly lost his two strongest allies when the three-time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic did not start after suites from previous crashes.
But when Steven Kruijswijk also fell, and had to be driven away in an ambulance to have the shoulder injury examined, just after protesters arranged a second roadblock protest during this year's tour, it got even worse for Vingegaard who now does not get the same traction and protection from his teammates.
- There are two very important stablemates so it was not so nice.
It was a really bad day for us but we have to fight our way all the way to Paris, says Vingegaard, who was blown away, according to Cyclingnews.
On Monday, a much-needed day of rest awaits before three tough stages in the Pyrenees, where he will have to do without his most important helpers.
The same protest group also stopped stage 10 for a short while.