Matteo Jorgenson had a controlled but demanding day on Friday for Visma | Lease a Bike, finishing as the third rider among the main general classification contenders, though still losing significant time to the front group. The stage began with chaos, as a large breakaway of around 60 riders escaped early, including Visma teammates Per Strand Hagenes, Edoardo Affini and Bruno Armirail. Their presence in the move proved valuable for the Dutch team, with Armirail already well placed in the overall standings and rising to second place on general classification after the stage.
Speaking after the finish, Jorgenson said the opening phase was immediately intense and made clear that he expected a tough day once the break had gone. He explained that the situation benefited Visma because other teams were forced to spend energy chasing, while his squad could conserve strength behind the move. The American said it was important to have Hagenes, Affini and Armirail represented up the road, giving the team tactical flexibility in the race.
The final section of the stage brought a moment that visibly unsettled Jorgenson. On a technical descent late in the day, he saw Oscar Onley crash in dramatic fashion, apparently going over the guardrail. Jorgenson said the incident shocked him and left him hoping the Scottish rider was unharmed. The crash added to a difficult day for Netcompany INEOS Grenadiers, who had already suffered the loss of Joshua Tarling. Tarling crashed earlier in the stage and did not remount, leaving the race with what appeared to be a collarbone injury. British champion Sam Watson had also crashed in the previous days, compounding a bruising week for the team.
Jorgenson then had to focus on the decisive uphill finish to Crest-Voland, where Decathlon CMA CGM rider Paul Seixas attacked aggressively. The American admitted he could not immediately respond to the acceleration but managed his effort carefully rather than overextending himself. He said he knew the risk of going too deep too early and preferred to remain within his limits.
In the end, Jorgenson conceded only 13 seconds to Seixas, who was closely followed by Isaac del Toro of UAE Emirates-XRG. It was a stage of measured defense for Jorgenson, whose ride combined tactical discipline with resilience on a day shaped by early breakaway pressure, a hard finale and a serious crash that cast a shadow over the race. For Visma | Lease a Bike, the result preserved options in the general classification battle while also underlining the value of having multiple riders in the breakaway.
