With 50km to go, Eliška Kvasničková is leading the race, followed at 40" by Katja Verkerk, while further back are Jazmine Lavergne and Ava Maddison, who bridge across to Verkerk after a few kilometers of chasing. With 30km remaining, their deficit is about 1'30" from the front of the race, while the peloton is over 3' behind. Kvasničková's advantage drops drastically on the final QOM of the day with about 15km to go; the same happens to the chasing trio, who are reabsorbed by the bunch with 12km remaining, while Kvasničková's attack is neutralized a few kilometers later.
At this point, a flurry of attacks hits the peloton as no team seems able to take control of the race, until about 5km from the finish when FDJ and UAE move to the front of the bunch, riding side by side. In the final kilometer, Cofidis also emerges with Kristýna Burlová, who takes the final corners in the lead to launch the sprint. Initially, it's a head-to-head battle between Le Net and Venturelli, but in the closing meters, Martina Alzini powers through to take the opening stage!