Development Team rider Rick Pluimers was in the breakaway with four other riders. The group got little space from the sprinters' teams. With 65 kilometres to go, the black and yellow brigade rode in the front of the bunch to take advantage of the strong wind. The breakaway riders' lead diminished quickly and the peloton broke up into pieces. After the peloton got back together, Team Jumbo-Visma set up an attack with Timo Roosen and Owen Geleijn, among others, but to no avail.

Being in the day's breakaway was a nice boost for 21-year-old Pluimers. "I am pleased with how it went today. I have been less fit in recent weeks and as a result, I haven't been able to train as much as I usually do. Then it's nice to be in the breakaway."

Dutch champion Roosen tried to avoid the race ending in a sprint. "I attacked on the hills, but the sprinters' teams were very well organised. We tried everything to avoid a sprint. It was a beautiful race. The twists, turns and many corners made it grueling. Even though it's a sprint race, everyone was on the limit in the final."

Roosen also praised the young riders with whom he was at the start today. "It was a boost for Rick to show himself at the front. All my young teammates here had a lot of morale and it's nice to see how open-minded they are. They ride really well, which bodes well for the future. For these guys, these are the big races they can learn from."

According to sports director Robert Wagner, the riders put up a good fight. "We made the most of today's opportunities by making good use of the two climbs and the small windy loop. The guys rode attractively and tried to make the race hard, which may have surprised some. We did everything we could to avoid a sprint. We had a plan and that was well executed, but the race was still decided in a sprint. We can certainly be satisfied with this way of racing."