Team DSM was one of the teams with four riders in the first group when the peloton split on two climbs in the middle of the first stage of the Ituriá women's stage race.

However, the Dutch team missed a decisive move and was ultimately forced to chase a breakaway group, ultimately costing team leader Liane Lippert valuable time in the overall. Florche Mackay nearly joined a group of four with final stage winner Demi Vollering, Ashley Moolman-Pasio (both SD Works), Lucinda Brand (Trek-Segafredo), and Elise Chaby (Canyon Scrum).

"Four riders got away on the downhill section, and Floce was between the peloton and the front for a while but couldn't get past it," said Huub Duyn, director sportif of Team DSM.

"After she was caught, Esme [Peperkamp] started pulling for us, and later Juliette [Labouse] and Floche joined us. The gap closed and a new attack began. We were in the mix but unfortunately missed the right move to reach the line.

When the lead group was caught, Vollering's teammate Niamh Fischer-Black immediately fired back. An alert McKaige took her wheel, but was unable to break away from the pack.

When Kristen Faulkner made her move with 16 km to go, Juliette Loves and McKaige were right behind her but could not react. And when Vollering made her move a few kilometers later, only Pauliena Reuijckers jumped on her wheel as Lippert chose to conserve her strength until the finish.

Peperkamp finished, and with the help of the FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine-Futuroscope, only Labouse and McCaige were left to keep the gap small, but to no avail.

Lippert won the sprint for fourth place, but was 41 seconds behind the front group.

Including time bonuses, the 24-year-old German is now 53 seconds behind stage winner and overall leader Voerling with two stages remaining. Still, Duin promised to continue racing aggressively.

"The team took charge today and chased when they needed to. I hope to carry this teamwork and aggressive racing style into tomorrow," said Duin.