The second stage was animated by Team Jumbo-Visma’s Jos van Emden. The national time trial champion was part of a five-rider breakaway. The breakaway lasted over one hundred and sixty kilometres. They were taken back in the last ten kilometres.

After the withdrawal of Foss, who was our pawn for today’s finish, Team Jumbo-Visma played no significant role on the steep final climb to the finish.

Sports director Grischa Niermann witnessed the talented climber being forced to abandon the race. “We had hoped that he could have joined the battle on this kind of finish. This is very annoying for him and for the team. But this is part of cycling as well. Until the crash, the stage went perfectly for us. We had Jos in the day’s breakaway and the teams had to chase very hard to reel them in. It was a strong and good attempt. Tomorrow we will be going full on for a sprint with Dylan again, but unfortunately without Tobias.”

Jos van Emden took his day in the breakaway as a good training. “We agreed this morning to try and have one rider in the breakaway. That way we didn’t have to chase as a team. When I saw strong guys like Cavagna and De Marchi go, I didn’t hesitate for a moment and I went along with them. Even though I knew that I would not stand a chance on a finish like this. We rode really fast and we lasted a long time. It was a good training. Tomorrow we will have a chance with Dylan, but first I’m going to go to sleep.”