It was supposed to be a transitional stage, but the riders and in particular the Bora-Hansgrohe team of sprinter Peter Sagan decided otherwise.
In Lavaur (Tarn), the Belgian Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma), already winner at Privas on Wednesday, won in front of a peloton of favorites reduced to grief.
In the last 40 kilometers, the leaders took advantage of the wind to harden the race and leave behind some outsiders, such as the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates), white jersey for the best youngster and 3rd in the general classification in the morning.
In front, the French Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck - Quick Step), Thibaut Pinot (FDJ-Groupama), Romain Bardet (AG2R-La Mondiale) or Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) felt the blow and took the right edge, just like the yellow jersey Adam Yates (Michelton Scoot), Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) or the outgoing Tour winner, the Colombian Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers).
Sagan takes the green jersey back from Sam Bennett (Decenninck - Quick Step), who finished more than a minute away.
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