Despite the many changes, the overall ranking is still open with two stages to go.
It was an action-packed day at the five-stage race, with the peloton tackling the famous Vejle stage, the very one that Remco Evenepoel used to build his success on two years ago, at his first outing in Denmark. Just like back then, the attacks began coming early, as soon as the bunch caught the breakaway that had animated the day for more than 150 kilometers.
On one of the many climbs, the group split leaving only nine men – including Casper Pedersen and Martin Svrcek – at the front, with a small gap that in the space of a couple of kilometers grew to almost 40 seconds. The Figueroa Champions Classic winner tried his luck and briefly got away, but the others responded and made sure the group remained as one ahead of the final lap.
It was there that Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) made his move not far from the finish and soloed to victory and the leader’s jersey. Around one minute later, Tim Declercq came home and concluded the stage as the best-placed Soudal Quick-Step rider, a result that puts him in the top 20 overall.
Photo credit: ©Luc Claessen / Getty Images
