Greig Leach

As expected the short flat sixty-nine kilometer stage ended in a bunch sprint in downtown Rotterdam. Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) looked like she had the sprint in the bag as she held of Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the Maillot Vert. But both were surprised when Charlotte Kool (DSM-Firmenich-PostNL) jumped out from behind them both and flew to the line. When she was interviewed after the opening stage she had said that she had to goals. One she had achieved, winning the Yellow Jersey. The other was to win a stage wearing the Maillot Jaune. It could be argued that no matter what else happens, she has already had her dream Tour de France Femmes. Behind that trio it was Lotta Henttala (EF-Oatley-Cannondale) in fourth and Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) rounding out the top five of the stage.