After two victories for Lotto Soudal, the team can look forward to the rest of the Tour with confidence. Nonetheless it are tough times for the injured Thomas De Gendt, Greg Henderson and Adam Hansen. Today is a hilly stage of 191.5 kilometres, mostly along the coastline, so there is a big chance that echelons will be formed. Sports director Frederik Willems, who rides ahead of the Tour caravan to pass on information, describes the stage.

“It will be a tough stage for several reasons," he said. "This region is hilly, it goes up and down all the time. The peloton will mostly ride along the coastline, there will probably be a crosswind, so everyone will be nervous again. The teams of GC riders will want to ride in front and the sprinters won’t want to lose contact with the first group. The last two kilometres are hard, with 850 metres at an average gradient of seven per cent. I’m curious to see which fast guys will survive, or if a puncher will take the victory.”