A bunch sprint will probably decide the fifth stage, which is 189.5 kilometres long without any climbs. There are only about five opportunities for the sprinters this Tour, so their teams will probably do everything that’s in their power to get them in a good position to the sprint. That Lotto Soudal already won a stage, gives confidence to the team, says Marcel Sieberg.

“It’s almost 100% sure that we’ll get a sprint," he said. "We already won a stage, but the other teams also aim for a victory. We can stay a bit in the background at first and only have to be at the front by the end.

"We’ll have to change our plans due to the injuries of Adam [Hansen] and Greg [Henderson], but Tim [Wellens] and Tony [Gallopin] have already proven to be strong guys who can do such a job as well. Positioning will be crucial. After our first victory, we strive for a second one.”