The third stage, including the necessary climbing, was covered with a high average speed. It took a long time before a leading group got away. The group was allowed a maximum lead of two minutes, but was caught in the last fifteen kilometres by Team Jumbo-Visma. The final climb to the finish did not go smoothly for both Roglic and Kruijswijk. The Slovenian got boxed in, but nonetheless managed to fight back to finish third. Kruijswijk was involved in a crash, after which he could no longer switch gears and sprint.

“It was a tough and very fast stage. The first hour went really fast”, Roglic said. “Luckily, things became a bit easier and quieter after the breakaway had been established. We couldn’t do it too quietly either because there were riders who are still close in the overall standings. The team controlled the stage really well and kept Steven and me in front all day. I got boxed in a bit at the end, so I had to start my sprint from too far. It certainly wasn’t my best sprint. Despite that, it was a good day, because I kept the yellow leader’s jersey.”