On a course that constantly went up and down, the yellow-and-black team stayed alert at the front of the peloton and controlled the race. In the final kilometer, a crash caused chaos in the peloton. Several riders had to swerve, causing the Team Visma | Lease a Bike riders to lose their position and no longer be able to compete for a good result in the sprint.

Despite the outcome, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot was satisfied: “It was a good day for us; we were always perfectly positioned at the crucial moments. I’m glad we all crossed the finish line safely; that was the most important thing.”

The focus now shifts immediately to the next two stages, which will undoubtedly shape the general classification. Tomorrow, the first mountain stage is on the programme.