Very little happened on the way to the Nogano circuit. In the last ten kilometres, however, the pace picked up considerably. Team Jumbo-Visma, with leader Jonas Vingegaard, could stay out of the frenzy thanks to its good position at the front of the peloton.

Sports Director Grischa Niermann: "We were in an ideal position with the whole team. Unfortunately, Wout just missed the connection. He lost the wheel of his teammates. Ultimately, he managed to move up a few places, but fighting for victory was no longer possible."

"It was a day where very little happened", Niermann continued. "The final, however, was quite hectic. Fortunately, we stayed out of trouble as a team. That is perhaps the most important thing on a day like this. As a team, we kept our leader Jonas in the safe zone. He turned onto the track second. That looked good. The following two days, we head into the Pyrenees. The team is riding well, and we are in good shape. We are ready for the battle that will undoubtedly flare up again in the next few days."