Even though the first 80 kilometers were almost exclusively uphill to a peak of 1,500 meters, the heat and lack of wind did not invite the Argentinian crowd to a spectacular festival.
Veteran Oscar Sevilla (46) gave another sign of life in the breakaway of the day, but after the endless hump, the sprinter teams joined forces.
The calculations were out of the book, attackers had no chance, just like yesterday.
Soudal-Quick Step was now able to roll out the red carpet, or at least to the last hectometres.
After craftsmanship of Remco Evenepoel Michael Morkov was pinned to the crush barriers by Danny van Poppel.
Fabio Jakobsen had to make a detour, but the sea opened just in time.
The Dutchman came out as the winner of four in a row with Fernando Gaviria as the closest attacker.
Sam Bennett couldn’t answer his pilot’s trick and finished 4th.
“I’m happy, especially after yesterday,” said Fabio Jakobsen after Soudal-Quick Step’s first victory.
“I spoke with the organization on Sunday evening and they promised me that we would get a clean final. We succeeded and that’s how it is nice to race.”
It was boiling hot again. “It’s snowing in the Netherlands,” Jakobsen joked. “I can’t handle the heat very well, but with 3 drinking bottles per hour I can manage.”
Much praise for his team followed. “Remco Evenepoel, Yves Lampaert and Michael Morkov: this may be my fastest lead-out ever.”
“I’m proud of them. And without Evenepoel I couldn’t win. I really need him and them.”
