The longest stage of the Tour de l'Avenir, the 230 km from Vierzon to Saint-Vallier, bears the signature of Davide Stella. The Friuli-born rider from UAE Team Emirates Gen Z finds the winning move in a sprint that exploded in the final meters, when the peloton – having caught up just 100 m behind the leading duo of Cisneros-Carstensen – launched toward the finish line.

Stella closed with lucidity and power, ahead of Thomas Capra (Bahrain Victorious Devo), who finished second yesterday as well behind Solen, and Polish rider Lewandowski. In terms of Italian representation, an excellent showing in the top ten: Arrighetti sixth, Negrente seventh, Lorello ninth. The leader's jersey remains on the shoulders of Norwegian Kasper Haugland.

THE STAGE
The early protagonists are Fugger (SUI), Loulergue (FRA), Holmes (AUS) and Dodd (GBR), who managed to build a well-organized breakaway, then closed by the peloton at 45 km from the finish. From there the race heats up: Dodd attacks with French champion Coudiere Cantin, reaching a maximum gap of 32". At 20 km from the end, a new attack: Cisneros and Carstensen attempt the big move, holding on until the final 100 m, but are caught by the charging peloton. The rest is Stella's perfect sprint for his second victory of the season after the fourth stage of the Vuelta al Portugal Futuro.