The stage was a very controlled one with the teams of the GC contenders keen to battle it out for the bonus seconds on offer, meaning that there was no real breakaway for much of the stage. Staying safe and out the wind for as long as possible, as well as represented when dangerous groups did go clear, Team DSM set about controlling the pace with Megan Jastrab and Leah Kirchmann towards the finale to keep things together for a sprint, closing the gap to three late escapees within the final 10 kilometres.
Heading into Oxford for the finish, the route was a twisty, technical one to the line and having lost a bit of position the team had to switch from the original plan of setting Charlotte Kool up for the finish to racing for Wiebes who dug deep to get to the front by the line and take the stage victory.
