In the mountainous stage to Guardia Sanframondi the pace was very high from the start. Team Jumbo-Visma was very active in the first part of the stage and was able to go along with various breakaway attempts. Neverthless, the yellow-black formation wasn’t able to join when the decisive breakaway got established.

“We had the plan to go in the breakaway”, sports director Addy Engels said. “Koen was the designated person for that. He was also in a good position. He tried it a number of times, but in the end it is also a lottery. You just can’t respond to every attempt either. When the breakaway was established, we protected Tobias and made sure he made it to the finish. The guys finished well and did not lose any time. Dylan and David also finished the stage in a good way. So all in all it was not a bad day for us.”

Engels was looking ahead to tomorrow’s stage. “It will be much more difficult tomorrow than it was today. There is even an unpaved section just before the finish. Tomorrow it will be a proper battle between the GC guys. Whether a breakaway will give enough of a lead to compete for the stage win depends on several factors, but we will certainly try to go with the breakaway. In addition, we will also support Tobias as well as possible and help him to achieve a good GC here. He is still in a good overall positon. It is also a great opportunity for him to take the necessary steps in his development as a Grand Tour rider.”