Greig Leach

Most of the 110 kilometers covered thus far in the race had been gruppo compacto (one large peloton). As they hit the Kanarieberg, Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar) went to the front and drove the pace. She was covered by some of the big names in the sport including Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope), Anna Van Der Breggen (Team SD Worx) and Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma). Vos is not in the black and yellow of her team's colors because she is wearing the Fushia of the points leader of the Women's Pro Tour. The plan worked, dropping the large group down to about fifteen serious contenders for the victory on the day.