The stage on hilly terrain was characterised by a breakaway of three riders who were reeled in in the final. Initially, Bert-Jan Lindeman of Team Jumbo-Visma was the fourth rider in the leading group, but he had to let them go.

“From the beginning we tried to be in the breakaway again”, Sierk Jan de Haan said. “The high pace, the heat and the 2,700 altitude meters made it a tough day. Taco still felt good at the end and sprinted for a top fifteen position.”