In the second stage of the Slovakian stage race, the Team Visma | Lease a Bike troops once again made it a tough race. In the run-up to the second climb, the pace was significantly increased, after which Lemmen saw his chance to attack. The 29-year-old Dutchman was joined by Paul Double and the duo soon caught up with the race leaders.
On the climbs that followed, Lemmen and Double distanced themselves from the early breakaway riders. The duo built up a maximum lead of fifty seconds, but Soudal Quick-Step ensured that everything came together. In the final sprint, Paul Magnier once again proved to be the fastest. Behrens sprinted to seventh place.Â