The third stage was coloured by a large leading group of eleven riders with Team Jumbo-Visma’s Bert-Jan Lindeman. They were given a maximum lead of almost six minutes, but were caught on the final climb. Kruijswijk was well-placed by his other team mates at the foot of the climb.

Sports director Frans Maassen had seen a combative team. “We gave all we got today. In the end, Steven just couldn’t follow the leaders, but he kept his pace and didn’t lose that much time. With another mountain-top finish tomorrow, anything is possible.”