The peloton set off from Samail for a stage of just under 194 kilometers. The key point of the stage was the final climb of Eastern Mountain. The finish line was located at the top of the 3.4-kilometer ascent. Sepp Kuss did not take the start. The 31-year-old American is ill and withdrew from the race as a precaution. As leader of the combativity classification, Patryk Goszczurny wore the gold jersey. 

After the start signal, a fierce battle developed for a place in the early breakaway. Eventually, seven riders, including overall leader Baptiste Veistroffer, formed the leading group. The breakaway effort came to an end in the final kilometers, with the climb of Eastern Mountain approaching. In a nervous run-in to the foot of the climb, a major crash occurred in the peloton at a roundabout. Among those involved were Lemmen and Graat, but both Team Visma | Lease a Bike riders reached the finish. Afterwards, it became clear that Lemmen had sustained a wrist injury, which will prevent him from starting the next stage. 

“Patryk keeps the gold jersey, so that’s the positive takeaway from today,” sports director Robert Wagner said. “We were ready to start the final climb with Bart and Tijmen, but unfortunately the big crash compromised our chances early on. Over the next two stages, we’ll do everything we can to defend Patryk’s jersey.”