Greig Leach

Over 100 kilometers into the race and this might be the first attack that may be successful. On the first section of cobbles, the Huisepontweg, it was Jonas Rutsch (EF Education-EasyPost) who started to ride away from the rest of the peloton. Off to his right Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) struggled with staying upright in the mud just along the side of the rougher roadway. Others tried to go with the pair of Germans gut at this point they were the only two to get away. Others did managed to join later when they got back to the smooth modern roads that lay around the corner.