In the stage of more than two hundred kilometres it took a long time before the breakaway with Teunissen got established. When the peloton gave in, the lead rapidly increased to more than twenty minutes. In the leading group a tactical game of cat and mouse ensued. Teunissen tried several times, but Slovenian Mohoric proved to be the strongest of the breakaway.

“You don’t get in that position every day, so you have to go for it. In such a big group you have to gamble and be lucky”, Teunissen said. “We were in the front with only strong riders. You can’t watch just one rider: everyone is watching everyone. And you can’t react to everything. When Mohoric accelerated on that uphill section, I didn’t have the legs to go with him”, Teunissen continued.

“Behind him, the cooperation wasn’t optimal either. When it turned out we didn’t get a second closer, you know you’re riding for second place. Wout said he wanted to focus on the time trial, so this was a chance for me. Fourth is not bad, but ultimately it is also nothing. I would have liked to reward the confidence of the team.”