"After such a tough day like today, it’s of course nice to win. It would be a pity to get second or third," Pedersen said after the race.
“No one likes to race in five or six degrees and rain, so it was a tough day. I just don’t care when it’s weather like this, but I really don’t enjoy it. In the end, I enjoy it now after the race, and it’s a victory in the pocket.”
Pedersen won from a reduced bunch sprint, containing 17 riders who made the front group on a day when the peloton was haunted by wind and rain as they set course for Berre l’Étang on the Mediterranean coast.
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) jumped to third in the overall classification going into the race's final weekend.
"It’s super nice to get a victory with the team, and also Skjelmose moving up in GC. For us this was a perfect day," said Pedersen.
João Almedia (UAE Team Emirates XRG), winner of stage four and Lenny Martínez (Bahrain Victorious), stage five’s winner both had a real off-day in the difficult weather conditions.
Almeida lost almost two minutes while Martínez lost nine minutes as both of them dropped out the top 10 in the standings.
Jonas Vingegaard pulled out of the race this morning after suffering a hand injury in yesterday's crash.