Soon after the start, a six-rider front group formed. They gained a lead of three minutes. In harsh conditions, Team Jumbo-Visma and other teams kept control.

With ten kilometres to go, the breakaway only had half a minute left on the peloton. At that moment, one of the escapees decided to go on the attack, but he was caught with less than a kilometre to go. Then another rider attacked. This rider was caught up just before the finish by the sprinting peloton.

According to sports director Addy Engels, Kooij was too far away to sprint for the win. "There was a strong wind. That's why it was a nervous day. Nothing happened, but it is one of those stages where everyone is ready in case something happens. Together with some other teams we kept the race under control. What worked perfectly yesterday in terms of the lead-out from Mick and Rick didn't work so well today. Because of that, Olav wasn't in front far enough to sprint for the win."

According to Engels, tomorrow will be another nervous day. "According to the forecast, nasty weather is on its way. It could be like today: everyone is nervous and nothing happens. Or there could be a battle that breaks up the peloton making for tufts of riders everywhere. It will depend on how the peloton wants to race and what the wind is like."

Tomorrow is the final day of Circuit Cycliste Sarthe. A 173.6 km stage in and around La Chapelle-Saint-Aubin will be on the programme.