After a stage for the puncheurs followed by yesterday’s time trial, today offered a chance for the sprinters to strut their stuff with a predominantly flat 201 kilometres route from Kaposvár to Balatonfüred. As the riders rolled out of the neutralised zone, the break of three managed to ease itself off the front and the bunch settled in for the day.

The team rode well within the peloton to conserve as much energy as possible and stay safe, before turning their attention to bringing finisher Alberto Dainese towards the fore in the finale. As the hours ticked by, the breakaway was eventually caught with 20 kilometres to go and things came more hectic in the peloton. Moving up en masse, the team took their position on the right hand side of the road, holding it well, but heading into the deep finale things became more hectic and the battle for position intensified as every team wanted to be in the front for the final roundabout. As a result, Dainese had to move up from deep, producing a good turn of speed but finding himself boxed in a bit as he tried to jink his way around the competitors – eventually crossing the line for a solid ninth place finish.

“We rode well together well at the final to keep everyone safe at the front,” explained Dainese. “The last kilometres were very chaotic and super fast. We did our best to keep to the front right but on the last roundabout we were a bit too far back. It was then downhill towards the finish and I couldn’t pass many riders anymore. We will try again next time.”

Team DSM coach Matt Winston added: “I think we showed some good teamwork, being together throughout the day. We really just missed that moment to move up as a team and therefore the sprint was messy. It meant we couldn’t really put a full lead out together but it gives us motivation for the next sprint stage.”