Damiano Caruso launched a move early in the climb, splitting up the group and making the selection clear between those who had the legs and those who didn't.
Michael Woods and Michael Storer joined up, later to be caught by the rest of the chasing group in the descent of the Port de Lers, where Hugo Houle made his move.
The Israel - Premier Tech rider entered the steep section of the final climb with 50 seconds advantage over the chasing group, where Storer and Madouas of Groupama coordinated the chase but without success. Matteo Jorgenson was the strongest behind but 25 seconds after Houle at the summit, with Michael Woods in the wheel making it an impossible task for the American to succeed. A crash on the descent spelled destiny, with Hugo Houle arriving in Foix alone to take his most important win of a long career.
Valentin Madouas sprinted to second place, with Michael Woods third.
In the peloton Enric Mas and Louis Meintjes stirred the GC fight at the Port de Lers, with Tadej Pogacar also attacking twice but being shut down by Jonas Vingegaard leading to a stalemate. Movistar Team, Rafal Majka and then Sepp Kuss paced up the Mur de Péguère as the race went by pace up the steep slopes.
The race consolidated slightly in the descent, with some gaps between the riders in the Top10 but no changes in the podium.