After this climb, there were no more difficult descents on the remaining route.
The route then consisted of long, gradual climbs all the way to the 161-kilometer mark.
After that came the final showdown: an 11.2-kilometer, HC Level climb.
However, before starting the climb, Huang Chong remembered to pass the supplies on his back to Brother Luo. They both took their final provisions.
At this point, the gap between the peloton and the breakaway group had shrunk to less than a minute and a half.
But as the breakaway group hit the final climb, Cort and Grégoire, both capable of a stage win, were the first to accelerate, immediately dropping the rest of the riders in their group.
Meanwhile, the Quick Step domestique who had been controlling the pace all this time completely blew up right as they entered the HC Level climb.
