Greig Leach

Now that Greg Van Avermaet had dropped back to the chasing peloton, it was left to these three to push on in vain hope for a stage victory. Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Katusha-Alpecin), Natnael Berhane (Cofidis) and Xandro Meurisse (Wanty Group) knew that the odds were stacked against them, but there was nothing left but to try. This stage was seen as one for the sprinters, and with a Yellow Jersey on offer for the stage winner, it was very unlikely that a break away would succeed. But if one doesn't try, then it definitely won't happen.