The stage had a fast opening hour with multiple attacks. But it took over forty kilometres before a leading group of six, including Antwan Tolhoek on behalf of Team Jumbo-Visma, was given some space. They got a maximum lead of one and a half minutes, but the GC teams managed to reel the six back in. After the group with Tolhoek had been caught, the four who eventually competed for the stage victory got away.

Sports director Addy Engels had hoped for a different scenario. “The stage didn’t go as we expected. We had hoped for a little more control, so that we could sprint for the stage win with a reduced peloton. We wanted to take our chances with Mike. Unfortunately it didn’t turn out to be a sprint. Though I think it was good for Mike to ride such a final, so that he was able to get involved in a sprint again.”

“At first it looked like the breakaway with Antwan was the right breakaway to be in, but unfortunately things turned out differently. Hopefully he can show his climbing legs again in the upcoming stages”, Engels concluded.