John Degenkolb won the Arras-Roubaix ninth stage of the Tour de France on Sunday.

The German finished ahead of Belgian Greg van Avermaet, who retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey.

Australian Richie Porte was ruled out of the race after crashing and fracturing his collarbone. Four-time winner Chris Froome also crashed but recovered to finish with the other main general classification contenders.

Degenkolb’s win was his biggest since nearly losing a finger after being struck by a car during a training ride in January 2016. He dedicated it to a friend who died last year.

‘This is pure happiness. I was chasing this victory for so long, I’ve been through a lot,’ said Degenkolb. ‘Everybody said I was done after the accident, that I would never come back, but I said I needed to get one really big victory for my friend.’

Stage 9 result:

1. John Degenkolb (Ger/Trek-Segafredo) 3hrs 24mins 26secs
2. Greg van Avermaet (Bel/BMC Racing) same time
3. Yves Lampaert (Bel/Quick-Step Floors)
4. Philippe Gilbert (Bel/Quick-Step Floors) +19secs
5. Peter Sagan (Svk/Bora-Hansgrohe) same time
6. Jasper Stuyven (Bel/Trek-Segafredo)
7. Bob Jungels (Lux/Quick-Step Floors)
8. Andre Greipel (Ger/Lotto-Soudal) +27secs
9. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor/Team Dimension Data) same time
10. Timothy Dupont (Bel/Wanty-Groupe Gobert)

General classification after stage nine

1. Greg van Avermaet (Bel/BMC Racing) 36hrs 7mins 17secs
2. Geraint Thomas (GB/Team Sky) +43secs
3. Philippe Gilbert (Bel/Quick-Step Floors) +44secs
4. Bob Jungels (Lux/Quick-Step Floors) +50secs
5. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +1min 31secs
6. Rafal Majka (Pol/Bora-Hansgrohe) +1min 32secs
7. Jakob Fuglsang (Den/Astana) +1min 33secs
8. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +1min 42secs
9. Adam Yates (GB/Mitchelton-Scott) same time
10. Mikel Landa (Spa/Movistar)