The longest stage of the Tour, from Vierzon to Le Creusot, was full of attacks in the early stages. Team Jumbo-Visma, with Van Aert, Mike Teunissen and Tony Martin, got involved in the front and wanted to be in the breakaway of the day. A large group of 29 riders, including Van Aert and Teunissen, was able to separate themselves and get a maximum lead of around seven minutes.

In the hilly final the breakaway broke up several times. Mohoric proved to be the strongest of the large group and completed a solo effort. Van Aert crossed the line in eighth place, just behind the holder of the yellow jersey, Mathieu van der Poel.

Van Aert found it logical that Van der Poel did not let him go. “My goal was to get in the breakaway of the day, go for the stage win and gain some time in the general classification. I was Mathieu’s biggest rival in the breakaway, so of course he wouldn’t let me get away. We worked well together in the final kilometres. I am now in a nice second place. First I have to recover and then I’ll see what’s in store for me tomorrow and whether I can still try to win yellow.”

The Belgian champion sympathised with his struggling leader. “Primoz gave a really good performance in the time trial. That was impressive. It is a pity to see him suffer so much, but a stage as today’s certainly does not help.”

Teammate Steven Kruijswijk said the leader was not to blame. “In the time trial he gave everything, but you see that he’s in pain. Then such a hard course as today is not really conducive. We hoped he would come through, but now you see that was not realistic. I didn’t have a super day either, but with Jonas Vingegaard I was still doing okay.”

Sports director Frans Maassen will review the situation tonight, with the team. “We had hoped beforehand that Primoz could survive, but in the end he had a very hard time. Tonight we will make plans for the upcoming mountain stages, but unfortunately for Primoz the GC seems to be over and done with. That’s painful, but realistic.”