In the queen stage, which was shortened by 40 kilometers due to bad weather, fifteen riders quickly formed a breakaway. The large breakaway group gained a lead of over three minutes, but thanks to the controlling efforts of teams like Team Visma | Lease a Bike in the peloton, most riders were reeled in on the final climb.

On the climb to Auron, the pace remained steady for a long time. The tempo increased, but the two remaining breakaway riders managed to maintain a solid gap. With two kilometers to go, it was Lenny Martinez who attacked, but his move wasn’t enough to make a difference. Jorgenson had no trouble following his direct rivals for the general classification, while Storer, after a whole day in the break, soloed to victory in Auron.

“It was a tough day", Jorgenson said. “Even though it wasn’t a very long stage, it still felt heavy. My team did an amazing job up to the climb, and luckily, my legs were also in good shape. The cold temperatures and wintery showers made it really hard once again. Fortunately, I’m still in the lead, and the weather should improve tomorrow.”