Victor Campenaerts lit up the start with a solo move, cresting the first climb (Puerto del Madroño) over a minute clear before sitting up to wait for the bunch. A second move — Luca Creti, Ryan Boulahoite, Josh Burnett, Ibai Azanza, Nicolás Alustiza, Dylan Vandenstorme and Lucas Towers — was caught on the final climb, the Puerto de las Abejas, where a reduced peloton kept all the big names aboard. The lumpy parcours never fully shed the fast men, and the run-in came down to a reduced bunch sprint. Laporte timed his effort perfectly to beat Bastien Tronchon and Ben Oliver, claiming the win and the first overall lead of the race.

With the top of the stage finishing on the same time, Laporte led the GC ahead of Tronchon, Ben Oliver, Søren Wærenskjold and Fred Wright — all on the same time, the race wide open with the time bonuses on stage 1 the only separator.