Without the unfortunate Mijntje Geurts, who suffered a broken nose in a hard crash on Tuesday, the peloton set off from Imola to Urbino for a 134-kilometre ride. Five riders went for a breakaway and grabbed a maximum lead of six minutes. Emond went solo at 50 kilometres from the line and held her lead until the finish.

From the peloton, De Vries jumped on the first climb with a strong group that had started the pursuit of Emond. The group picked up a minute on the peloton in no time, but did not come close to winning the stage. De Vries had to let go her fellow escapees just before the top of the climb and failed to get back on the descent. 

"That was unfortunate, although I am happy to create such opportunities for myself," De Vries looked back on the stage. "I felt good today. It was very hot, but with ice and cold water it was doable. Fem dropped me off perfectly at the bottom of the first climb and although the collaboration in the group was not fantastic, we were riding fast on the climbs."

Fem van Empel also speaks of a tough stage. "It was essential to cool down and drink well. Today my job was to drop off Femke at the front on the climb. The rest of the stages I will try to be in a nice breakaway."