Van Aert plays his part as Visma's plan delivers Brennan Vuelta victory

The punchy finale lent itself to puncheurs as well as sprinters, and Visma played their hand accordingly. Though no mean finisher himself, Van Aert was deployed to go on the offensive in the closing kilometres, while Brennan was able to hold himself in reserve for the gently climbing dash to the line.

Van Aert attacked with intent on the final climb with 1.6km to go, immediately opening a gap over the peloton. Only Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) could respond to the move, and Van Aert waited for the world champion at the crest of the hill.

Pogačar opted against coming through, however, and Van Aert was content to drift back into the peloton, where Brennan was biding his time for the sprint.

“It was quite planned. It was my plan to attack there,” Van Aert told Eurosport afterwards. “I had a bit too small of a margin on Tadej, so I waited a little bit on the top and then when they didn’t want to give me a turn, I always knew Matthew was there to do a sprint like this, where he’s also amazing. That worked out really well. I’m really proud of the boys today.”

Van Aert began the day just nine seconds off the overall lead, and he set out from Monaco aiming to pick up the bonus seconds he needed to take the red jersey from Pogačar. He duly snaffled four seconds at the intermediate sprint, but Van Aert’s red jersey dream didn’t mean that Van Aert was Visma’s lone option in the finale in Manosque. Once his attack lost momentum, the mantle of leadership passed to Brennan.

Although Brennan is a Grand Tour debutant and has only just turned 21, he is hardly a neophyte. His victory in Manosque was the 20th of a career that has already yielded six WorldTour wins and a triumph at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. Van Aert smiled at the idea that the Briton’s victory had been something of a surprise.

“Because of his age it’s a surprise but because of what he’s shown already, it’s almost a normal follow-up, I would say,” said Van Aert, who placed 22nd on the stage. “He’s super strong and he showed it today on one of the biggest races. It’s really nice.”

Van Aert moves up to second overall after his gains in the finale, but he remains nine seconds off Pogačar, who sprinted to third to retain the maillot rojo ahead of stage 3 to Font Romeu.