The eighth stage had all the hallmarks of a one-day classic. Early on, a fierce battle unfolded for a spot in the breakaway. Among the key instigators were Wout van Aert, Bart Lemmen, and Kelderman. Eventually, Kelderman and Van Baarle managed to escape the peloton together.

Van Baarle immediately sacrificed himself for his teammate, putting in strong turns at the front of the group. This not only widened the gap to the peloton but also dropped several breakaway companions early on.

Kelderman later pushed on with Italian Diego Ulissi, forming a new lead duo. From behind, Plapp managed to bridge across to them. Once he made contact, the Australian didn’t hesitate long before launching his winning move. Though Kelderman and Ulissi managed to close part of the gap in the final kilometers, second place was the best they could achieve.

“I actually had a pretty good day”, Kelderman said. “I didn’t expect that this morning, to be honest—I didn’t feel great when I woke up. I made a few moves early in the stage, which cost a lot of energy. You just have to hope you make the front group at the right moment, though that’s never entirely in your control. In the end, we had a strong group, and Dylan did an excellent job. Luke was just a bit stronger today, so his win is definitely deserved.”