In the beginning of the 132-kilometres long stage from Blankenberge to Ardooie, two riders escaped. They were reeled in before the Golden Kilometre. Team Jumbo-Visma showed themselves in the front. Teunissen took five important bonification seconds, while Pascal Eenkhoorn sprinted to two seconds. After that Amund Jansen attacked, but the peloton caught him with eight kilometres to go. The final was marred by a big crash. Teunissen was the only Team Jumbo-Visma riders who could escape and finished in the first peloton.

According to sports director Jan Boven, the team focused on the Golden Kilometre. “It went as planned. The guys who crash, are alright luckily. We got away well. Unfortunately, the riders lost a lot of time. That’s why Mike is our only man for the general classification now.”

Teunissen took valuable seconds on his rivals. “Today we wanted to collect as much as bonification seconds as possible. It worked out well for Pascal and me. Luckily I didn’t crash, but I wasn’t good enough to sprint for the stage win. We will see how good my form is in the time trial of tomorrow.”