At precisely 12h30, the pack of the 42nd Tour de l’Avenir took off for the 10th and final stage of the event. The 102 riders were to ride 6 times on a 24,5 kilometre circuit around Blaye-les-Mines before the finish line. In the first kilometres, quite a few riders tried to break away. The pack eventually made it bunched at the top of the first climb of the côte de la Pélégrinié (km 15,5). Dominguez (ORB) led ahead of Mederel (AUB) and Raisin (C.A). In the climb up the côte des Bruyères, a group of 8 riders managed to take off: Minard (RAG), Martens (GER), Pichot (BTL), Coutouly (AGR), Lemoine (C.A), Kolessov (CAP), Caethoven (JAC), Diaz Armas (ORB). At the top (km 15,5), Kolessov made it first in front of Coutouly and Minard, the pack was then 20’ adrift.

At the first passage on the line (km 24,5), the pack had lost more time and was 30’ behind. Redondo (LSW) then tried to break away and chase the front group. The leaders’ advantage however continued growing on both the counter-attacking rider and the main field led by the CSC Team. Caethoven suffered a puncture in the climb up côte de la Pélégrinié. In Virac (km 34), he had lost 25’’ on his former companions. At the top of the following climb (km 40), Kolessov led ahead of Lemoine and Diaz Armas. Caethoven remained 35’’ behind, Redondo was at 1’50 and the pack at 2’25. Going up the côte des Bruyères, Caethoven and Redondo were caught by the pack. Kolessov again clinched the most mountain points (km 46,5) ahead of Lemoine and Martens. The pack was then at 2’25. At the second intermediate sprint staged on the line in Blaye-les-Mines (km 48,5), Kolessov beat Martens and Minard. The pack was then 2’45 adrift.

The race settled down slightly and the third lap of the circuit was ridden at the same kind of pace. At the top of the côte de la Pélégrinié (km 64), Kolessov led in front of Lemoine and Martens. The pack led by Vandborg (CSC) remained 3’15 behind. The front group carried on progressing in fine fashion thanks to Kolessov who made it first at the top of the côte de Bruyères (km 70,5). He led ahead of Diaz Armas and Minard, while the pack was then 3’10 behind. In the fourth lap, the pack increased its pace and at the top of the côte de Pélégrinié (km 88,5), had then a 2’45 deficit. Again, Kolessov won the climb in front of Minard and Lemoine. In the côte des Bruyères, the escapees maintained their advantage and at the (km 95) Kolessov led ahead of Lemoine and Diaz Armas. The pack moved closer at 2’35. The second intermediate sprint of the day (km 97) was claimed by Minard who beat Lemoine and Kolessov while the pack was then 2’30 adrift.

In the penultimate lap, the pack again eased up its pace under the influence of the CSC team and the front men saw their advantage drop down to 1’55 at the bottom of the côte de la Pérégrinié. In the climb, Kolessov, who suffered mechanical problems lost ground and was rapidly dropped 30’’ behind. At the top (km 112,5), Minard beat Lemoine and Coutouly for the most mountain points. Now well behind, Kolessov was then 50’ adrift. The pack that carried on its chase moved closer at 1’50. At the top of the côte des Bruyères (km 119,5), the leaders advantage remained of 1’50. Minard led the group ahead of Lemoine and Coutouly. Kolessov was then at 1’15.

The last lap was covered at high speed. The leading group started breaking apart. Minard, Coutouly and Diaz Armas eventually hung on to the leadership. The RAGT rider made it first at the top of the last climb up the côte des Bruyères (km 137) leading ahead of Diaz Armas and Coutouly. With 5 kilometres to go, the gap with the pack had dropped to 25’’. This advantage would be sufficient for one of the three leaders to clinch the day’s stage. On the finish line in Blaye-les-Mines, Minard managed to beat Coutouly who again finished second of a stage… Bak, the yellow jersey holder ever since Argentré-du-Plessis claimed the 42nd Tour de l’Avenir. Bazayev, who eventually won the bunched sprint on this last stage, captured the final green jersey while Raisin kept his King of the mountain polka-dot jersey.