In the second stage, with no less than three climbs, little happened. After the three riders in the early breakaway had been caught, it was a matter of staying well-positioned on the narrow roads with many turns in the final few kilometres. Team Jumbo-Visma took matters into their own hands and kept leader Kruijswijk out of trouble.

”It was a hectic day”, Kruijswijk said. “The team did a very good job by constantly keeping me out of the wind and by avoiding problems. In the end, we took the initiative in the technical final kilometres. The most important thing was to not lose any time and that plan worked out. I also took a bonus second, which in the end can be useful for the GC. Tomorrow, in the stage to Vallter 2000, we have the first mountain-top finish, then we will know better who will be in contention for the GC for the rest of the week. I am looking forward to it”, the Dutchman concluded.

Sports director Frans Maassen concurred with his leader. “The team did very well today. It was a technical final and there was a strong headwind. The plan was to be in the front with Steven in the last three kilometres. So we took things in our own hands. The only downside was that Tolhoek crashed. He crashed into Froome. Hopefully he won’t experience too many problems tomorrow.”