Marc Hirschi finally got his stage win.

Stage 12 featured what have now become the 22-year-old's trademarks: A fierce acceleration at the top of a late ascent, a white-knuckle descent and a brave time trial to the finish. After coming up short twice at this year's Tour -- if only he started his sprint a little sooner on Stage 2, if only he had a little more strength at the end of 90 kilometers alone on Stage 9 -- Thursday must have been a sweet relief. After the stage, Hirschi said the he "never believed that I could make it."

Hirschi went solo with 28 kilometers to go, slingshotting past Marc Soler about two kilometers before the summit of the Category 2 Suc au May. Behind him, an elite group of stage hunters -- led by Julian Alaphilippe, and including Soler, Pierre Rolland, Max Schachmann, Soren Kragh Andersen, Quentin Pacher, Jesus Herrada, Nicolas Roche and others -- couldn't gain ground. Hirschi expanded his lead by approximately 10 seconds to the chase group on the 12-kilometer descent.

As the terrain flattened out, Hirschi had 14 kilometers to defend a roughly 50-second lead. Alaphilippe made multiple attacks out of the chase group, but could't inspire anyone to go with him, his breakmates likely aware that they would only be helping him potentially win yet another stage.