This page contains the stage podium, the race story, GC implications after the stage, and per-rider performance. Read no further if you intend to watch this stage unspoiled.
Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Mobility) won the marathon 234 km hilly stage to Le Puy-en-Velay from the day's breakaway; Alex Baudin held yellow.
On the longest stage of the race — 234 km to Le Puy-en-Velay — a six-rider move went from the flag with Anthon Charmig, Baptiste Veistroffer, Alex Díaz, Nadav Raisberg, Benjamin Thomas and Henri-François Renard-Haquin, later joined by a chase group including Raúl García Pierna, Vlad Van Mechelen, Jordan Jegat and Clément Braz Afonso. The peloton let the lead balloon to around six minutes. With 47 km left the move splintered repeatedly; Benjamin Thomas tried a late solo before the Côte de Saint-Vidal but was reeled in by the strongest survivors. Charmig timed the finale best to take the win at Le Puy-en-Velay, with Renard-Haquin and Van Mechelen 41 seconds back.
With the day's move contesting the win well clear of the bunch, Alex Baudin retained the leader's jersey. The GC favourites finished together and conserved energy ahead of the stage 3 team time trial that would start to draw the real GC lines.
A quiet day in the bunch for the race leader. Baudin let the breakaway go and finished safely in the peloton to keep the yellow jersey on a stage where no GC time was at stake.