The instigator of the race-winning stage six counter-attack at the Criterium du Dauphine, Pim Ligthart had to settle for fourth in the end. A former Vacansoleil-DCM team-mate of Westra, the two rode alongside iconic hard man Juan Antonio Flecha last season. Ligthart proved his attacking ability at the Ster-ZLM Toer, winning from the break as they narrowly held off the sprinters chasing behind them.

And Ligthart has been on the attack since joining Lotto-Belisol too, testing his legs at Paris-Nice before forming part of the race-winning break twice in three days at the Dauphine. On stage four, Yuri Trofimov’s solo win came from the day’s break – from which Ligthart finished third.

And having instigated the race-winning break on stage six, the 25-year-old can not be far from a maiden WorldTour win as he continues to impress.