Greig Leach

As with most of the Classics, the day started with a group eight guys getting of the front together. Today was no different. Sam Maisonobe (Cofidis), Jasha Suttelin (Jayco-Alula), Max Walker (EF Education-EasyPost), Samuel Leroux and Alex Coleman (TotalEnergies), and Marco Haller (Tudor Pro Cycling) build up a four-minute lead over the peloton at one point. By the time Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) joined the escapees, they had just under a minute's advantage with seventy-four kilometers yet to go. It wasn't looking like it would be a day for the breakaway. But then, it rarely is.