The first mountain stage in the French Pyrenees began with a long, flat run-in. A large breakaway, including Tiesj Benoot, was gradually whittled down on the Col du Soulor. The race came to life on this climb thanks to the yellow-black formation. Team Visma | Lease a Bike took control at the front of the group of favorites, forcing yellow jersey wearer Ben Healy to drop early. Matteo Jorgenson and Remco Evenepoel also struggled, but managed to rejoin the group a bit later.
As the reduced group approached Hautacam, they chased down Bruno Armirail, who was still off the front from the breakaway. As soon as the final climb began, Pogacar launched an immediate attack. Vingegaard tried to follow, but couldn’t hold the Slovenian’s wheel for long. Jorgenson, Sepp Kuss, and Simon Yates had already been distanced earlier. Pogacar rode away unchallenged to take the stage win. Vingegaard eventually conceded just over two minutes and now faces a significant deficit in the general classification.
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