But just after the peloton passed the first climb and swallowed up the five breakaway riders, a new nine-man breakaway group formed. It quickly opened a gap on the main group and pulled further and further away!
This new breakaway was clearly larger and stronger overall than the initial group of five.
They included Anthony Turgis from the TotalEnergies Team.
Pidcock from the Ineos Grenadiers Team.
Derrick Gee from the Israel-Premier Tech Team.
Alex Aranburu and Romo from the Movistar Team.
Ben Healy from the EF Education Team.
Lutsenko from the Astana Team.
Van Gils from the Lotto Team.
And Stuyven from the Cuike Team.
Huang Chong couldn't care less that the breakaway was pulling away. He knew he wasn't going to win the stage anyway, so he was more than happy to let them take the victory.
