Couldn't understand Millar or his team not pulling Auge back immediately either. Would have taken little effort as they should have been sitting on his wheel all day anyway. Pre stage 2 & 3 = DM talking about it's good having all the flat stages so he can have the jersey to the Alps.
The win is everything, that's why they faff about. Publicity is already gained from a day long break. Once that's done and you're near the end then it's only who crosses the line first that matters. He's the only one to go on the podium, and the only one who goes in the record books. No (or negligable) publicity for either him or his team for finishing 2nd, 3rd, or 4th.
As some wise soul once said about competing at the top: "Winning is everything, second is nothing".