The hill stage’s finish was on the Cote du Stade Olympique, a five-kilometre climb with a maximum gradient of twelve percent. His teammates controlled the stage well, and Van Aert maneuvered to the front and got himself in the wheel of yellow-jersey wearer Pogacar. With a mighty final sprint, the green-jersey wearer was the fastest.

"I am thrilled with this win. I asked the team to control the stage because I was confident I could win. It's extra sweet when you can finish it off", Van Aert said. "You can't win this kind of stage without a team. Nathan Van Hooydonck did a great job riding in front all day. I am also super happy for him that I won."

According to Van Aert, l it was a matter of 'fighting and surviving' to stay with the best on the final climb. "I knew I would have a good chance if I could get to the last three hundred metres. At first, I got a bit trapped by a classification rider and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get out. Luckily I saw an opening and was able to pass everyone."

Van Aert, who gave the team its twenty-eighth win of the season, extended his lead in the green jersey classification. "This was an important stage to increase my lead in the points classification. There was a lot of pressure on the final sprint anyway because Pogacar could take some bonification seconds for the yellow jersey. Fortunately, I perform best when the pressure is high."