The Tour de Wallonie opened under the sign of Jordi Meeus. The 27-year-old Belgian rider from Red Bull - BORA – hansgrohe won the stage that started from Manage and finished just now in Lobbes, outsprinting Anders Foldager, a 23-year-old Danish rider from Jayco AlUla, and Kim Heiduk of Netcompany INEOS. Today's victory allows Meeus to wear the orange leader's jersey of the race and brings his professional victories tally to eighteen.

THE RACE REPORT - After the first breakaway attempt of the day was neutralized, the peloton remained compact. About fifteen kilometers from the finish line, taking advantage of the slopes of the Mur de Thuin, Neilands (NSN Cycling Team), Sentjens (Alpecin - Premier Tech), Slock (Lotto Intermarché), Heiduk (Netcompany INEOS), Pithie (Red Bull - BORA – hansgrohe), Foldager (Team Jayco AlUla) and Oliver (Modern Adventure) attacked. However, their attempt did not achieve the desired effect, and so the peloton came back together with the Netcompany INEOS and Flanders – Baloise riders setting the pace at the front.

On the slightly uphill straightaway, Meeus let his opponents tire themselves out and then began his acceleration that allowed him to win.

An unlucky day for Arnaud De Lie, who suffered two punctures: the second, less than three kilometers from the finish line, prevented the Lotto Intermarché sprinter from participating in the final sprint.

FINISHING ORDER

1 Meeus Jordi Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe

2 Foldager Anders Team Jayco AlUla

3 Heiduk Kim Netcompany INEOS

4 Oliver Ben Modern Adventure Pro Cycling

5 Menten Milan Lotto Intermarché

6 Heremans Joppe Lotto Intermarché

7 Slock Liam Van Rysel Roubaix

8 Vandeputte Niels Alpecin - Premier Tech

9 Tesfatsion Natnael Movistar Team

10 Canal Carlos Movistar Team