Kragh Andersen produced an impressive display on the 15.1-kilometre test against the clock in Saint-Amand-Montrond.

The Sunweb rider completed the distance in a time of 18min 51sec to earn the stage victory.

Schachmann had threatened to dip under Kragh Andersen’s time after passing through the first time check with the fastest time.

The German rider slowed in the second half of the time trial, which saw him place second in 18:57.

Denmark’s Kasper Asgreen completed the top three, as he finished 12 seconds adrift of the stage winner.

There was disappointment for pre-stage favourite Julian Alpahilippe, with the French rider only able to finish 17^th after ending 36 seconds down.

The result strengthened Schachmann’s overall lead in the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour race.

He now enjoys a cushion of 58 seconds to Kragh Andersen, who rose up the standings to second overall with the stage victory.

Schachmann will hope to have earned a strong enough advantage to preserve the race lead until the conclusion of the International Cycling Union WorldTour race.

The mountain stage from Nice to Valdeblore La Colmiane on Saturday (March 14) is expected to be the biggest test for the German in the coming days.

Colombia’s Sergio Higuita, France’s Thibaut Pinot and Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali all lie within 1:30 of the race leader, which will give the climbers hope they can overhaul the German.

A flat 227km stage from Gannat to La Côte-Saint-André is scheduled to take place tomorrow.

The race has been impacted by the outbreak of coronavirus, with organisers introducing measures to comply with the French Government's ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

Public access is being restricted at the start and end of each stage.