The leading group got a big lead from the peloton and were allowed to compete for the stage victory. In the peloton, leader Roglic was well surrounded by his teammates. In the end, Bouwman could not compete for the daily win.

“I think it was good that I was in the leading group”, Bouwman said. “It gave Primoz peace of mind, because there is always someone in the front in case it turns to war among the GC riders. Just like yesterday, the plan was to have Antwan or me in the break of the day, so that we could support Primoz later on in the stage. In the end, little happened in the peloton. This allowed me to ride for my own chances, but I soon felt that I could not challenge for the win.”

Roglic remained optimistic. “It was a nice ride with many Slovenian supporters along the way. I enjoyed it immensely. It is important to stay fit and healthy. I’m still having some problems with my chest after my crash on Sunday, but my stomach is starting to feel better and I remain optimistic. I will continue to fight until the end.”