The Belgian stage race got underway with an ultra-short 3.9-kilometre prologue in the Dutch town of IJzendijke. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike riders posted respectable times but were unable to match Britain's Backstedt, who completed the race against the clock in four minutes and fourty seconds. Sadnik, Veenhoven and Vigié all finished fourteen seconds behind the winner.

"I think this is a solid start," sports director Joppe de Heij reflected afterwards. "We may have expected a little more from Margaux, but Katharina surprised us in a positive way. No one really stood out in terms of the result, but overall we can be satisfied and everyone came through the day well."

According to De Heij, the team's focus now shifts to tomorrow's stage, which is expected to end in a bunch sprint. "Tomorrow we want to go for the stage win with Nienke. It's a beautiful finish on the coast in Knokke and a great opportunity for her to deliver a strong sprint. Margaux, Imogen, Martina, Viktória and Katharina will do everything they can to give her the best possible lead-out."