The stage took the riders over four iconic Pyrenean giants, with the Col du Tourmalet and the summit finish at Luchon-Superbagnères serving as the main challenges. Kuss and Yates joined the early break, with the American even spending some time at the front of the race.

In the end, Arensman proved to be the strongest attacker, riding solo to the finish. Behind him, Vingegaard stirred things up in the group of favorites. The Dane launched an attack, with only Tadej Pogacar able to follow. The Slovenian edged out Vingegaard in a sprint to the line, but it was clear the Dane had strong legs today.

“I felt good”, Vingegaard said after the finish. “This was an incredibly tough day, maybe one of the hardest stages I’ve ever ridden. I think that goes for everyone. It looked like Pogacar and his team wanted to go for the stage win. I was ready for his attack, but I felt so good that I decided to go myself. My legs felt strong, and I had something left in the tank. Pogacar was able to follow; he was at least as strong as me today, maybe even stronger. But it’s encouraging that I could still try something at the end. Hopefully, I can carry this feeling into the final week.”

Head of Racing Grischa Niermann also reflected on the brutal stage. “We wanted to try and win from the breakaway. With Sepp and Simon up there, we were in a good position, but unfortunately they ran into a very strong Arensman. Jonas tried something late on and looked impressive. Honestly, we expected UAE to go for the stage and attack, but in the end, it was Jonas who took the initiative. He’s very motivated and riding super strong. We know there’s one guy who’s a little better, but we won’t just settle for second place. There’s still plenty to fight for”, said the German.