The breakaway was quickly formed and initially, the sprinters' teams seemed to be able to keep the time difference manageable. However, the breakaway riders continued to ride hard. They kept the gap above one minute for a long time and tremendous efforts by Team Jumbo-Visma and others proved not effective.

Sports director Frans Maassen was disappointed. "All sprinters’ teams miscalculated. The leading group did well. The peloton rode quite a high average speed but in the last part, we had a tailwind and we misjudged it. At twenty kilometres we tried to take back the breakaway riders with Koen Bouwman and Jos van Emden. By then, it was too late."