Greig Leach

The champion of Germany, Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) was out in the early three man break with MIkkel Honore (Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl). Earlier, the Maillot Vert, Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) had been out there with them, but he was called back to the peloton by his team. They actually sent a team car up to him to tell him directly to sit up and come back to the fold. More on that later. With the break down to two men, Politt wanted some advice from his sports director about whether he should continue the effort or not. With the day the last possible day for a sprint finish before Paris, it was unlikely the sprinters' teams were going to let a break away succeed.