After the 2021 edition was postponed to September by COVID-19 precautions,[3] the race returned to its usual spring timeslot.

[4] The race, which was 200.3 kilometres (124.5 mi) long, took place in and around Denain in northern France.

[4][5][6] Early in the stage, a five-rider group went off the front to establish the main breakaway of the race.

Shortly thereafter, the Ineos Grenadiers trio of Jhonatan Narváez, Magnus Sheffield, and Ben Turner launched another break, and they were joined by Primož Roglič (Team Jumbo–Visma) and Damien Touzé (AG2R Citroën Team).

The quintet established a maximum lead of around half a minute before Groupama–FDJ and Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux took control at the front of the peloton to close the gap.