The stage to Pesaro included the traditional early breakaway. First with three, but ultimately with two riders. They lasted two hundred kilometres, but were ultimately reeled in. The sprinter teams kept control and despite the hilly final, the stage finished in a bunch sprint. Team Jumbo-Visma kept together and managed to keep their leader in front of the peloton and therefore keep him out of trouble.

“Today was a great day for us”, Roglic explained. “The team again did a perfect job. So far, everything is going well and I am looking forward to tomorrow’s time trial. It will be an important day for the GC. I’m going to do my best and will leave everything out there and then we’ll see where we’ll end up. My main opponent? I am riding alone, so that’s going to be me.”

Sports director Addy Engels concurred with the words of his leader. “In the end it was tricky and hectic with that descent. The team was in the front at the right moments and it was nice to see how they took the initiative towards the descent. We got through the day very well. Tomorrow it’s everyone for themselves. Just like today’s final, we did a recon of the time trial after the Tirreno. It is a course that suits Primoz. It is comparable to Bologna, but longer. Primoz is very strong and he has the ability to keep his pace. It will be an exciting day and hopefully we can take time on our opponents.”