The stage with no less than five climbs along the way was controlled from the start by different teams. As a result, a breakaway of three got established within the first kilometres of the stage. The three were given a maximum lead of nine minutes, but were caught on the penultimate climb at about twenty kilometres from the finish. After that it was one long sprint to the foot of the final climb. Team Jumbo-Visma was represented in the front peloton with the entire team and brought Kuss and Gesink to that climb in a good position.

“Our riders have come through the day well”, sports director Jan Boven explained. “It was a tough stage with a lot of climbing. After the penultimate climb, we still had the entire team in the front. We wanted to focus on the last climb and then we would see where we would end. Sepp and Robert benefit more from longer and more regular climbs than today’s final climb. Tomorrow’s stage should suit them better normally. Nevertheless, they did a good stage and everything is still possible.”