The 77th edition of the French stage race also marked Vingegaard’s comeback to competition. The two-time Tour de France winner lined up for his first race since early March. The 195-kilometre stage between Domérat and Montluçon got off to a calm start, with the French duo Pierre Thierry and Paul Ourselin being allowed some space by the peloton for an early breakaway.  

As the race entered its final phase, the breakaway was reeled in. In the local laps, Fred Wright launched a solo attack, but the Briton was also caught. The local circuit included the climbs of the Côte de Buffon and the Côte de Domérat. The short but steep Côte de Buffon, in particular, was a good hill for late attacks.  

It was Vingegaard himself who opened the action with around six kilometres to go. At the top of the Côte de Buffon, he launched a sharp acceleration. He was joined by Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel, Remco Evenepoel, and Santiago Buitrago. The five riders quickly built a small gap, working well together. Although the peloton gave chase, the five just managed to stay ahead. In the final sprint, Vingegaard finished strongly, but fell just centimetres short of victory.  

"I think it might be the first time I’ve ever finished second in a bunch sprint," Vingegaard said with a smile. "I’m happy with how I felt today. It was great to be up front right away and to make an impact. I didn’t have much confidence in my sprint against that group, but a second place is definitely something to be pleased with. I also picked up six bonus seconds, so it’s a successful start."