After a long, flat run-up, the peloton had to conquer the Tourmalet first. Via Hourquette d'Ancizan, the road led to Pla d'Adet, a climb of the outer category. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike troops were well represented in the peloton throughout the day. Leader Vingegaard was well protected.

After Adam Yates launched an attack and picked up the last remaining early breakaway rider, Pogacar decided to attack. Vingegaard immediately anticipated, but could not immediately pick up on the Slovenian's wheel. For a long time, Vingegaard remained a few meters from his rival, but towards the final kilometers, the fighting reigning Tour de France winner had to allow Pogacar to get further and further out of sight. The difference on the line was 39 seconds.

Vingegaard looked back on the ride afterwards with mixed feelings. "I am satisfied with my own delivered performance, but at the same time of course disappointed with the time loss. This is Tadej's territory, but of course I would have preferred not to have lost any time today. On the steep sections of the climb I felt like I was getting closer and closer. However, the final kilometers were right up Tadej's alley, given the power he has. He deserved the stage win today. I am already looking forward to tomorrow. It will be climbing from the start. It will be a long, grueling day. Those days usually suit me. Together with the strong team I have around me, we will do everything we can to make it a success. The battle is definitely not over yet," Vingegaard stressed.

"Unfortunately we lost time on the competitor today," said sports director Grischa Niermann. "That's the painful conclusion. We knew Pogacar would attack on the last climb. His acceleration is always hard for Jonas to answer. Jonas rode a very strong ride, as he rides Remco Evenepoel out of the wheel, for example. We look at the situation from day to day. We remain combative and certainly don't give up. There are seven stages left, starting with tomorrow's tricky stage. We are going to make a new plan."