Before the start, Team Jumbo-Visma had to deal with a setback. Due to illness David Dekker, the intended sprinter for the Slovakian stage race had to drop out. As a result, Van Belle performed as a sprinter, with a seventh-place result.

"It is a shame that we have already lost our sprinter", sports director Maarten Wynants said. "David did not feel well after the prologue and after a bad night, we decided he would not start. Loe then indicated he wanted to go for it and we planned to have him take the sprinters role. Seventh place is a creditable result. The next few days are tougher. We will try to take advantage of the opportunities that will come."