Van Vleuten won the 3.3km Prologue in a dazzling time of 4:22 with an average speed of 45.344 km/h. That's fast. So fast in fact that the next closest rider, Anna Van Der Breggen (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team), was 7 seconds behind.

Sarah Roy (Mitchelton-Scott) was Australia's fastest finisher, crossing the line in 12 seconds back from the leader.

Van Vleuten backed up her Prologue win with another first place in the 132.2km second stage. Teammate Amanda Spratt finished in fifth position with fellow Australian Lauren Kitchen (FDJ) placing 20th, both riders credited finishing 12 seconds off the pace.

Van Vleuten and Spratt finished in 9th and 30th respectively in the 129km third stage, on equal time with the stage winner Amalie Dideriksen (Boels Dolmans Cycling Team).

At the half way mark, with three stages to go, Van Vleuten maintains first position in the GC and leads the Points and Mountains classifications.

Spratt now sits 8th in the GC, 37 seconds off the pace. Kitchen in 27th (0:58) followed by Chloe Hosking 60th (6:42) and Gracie Elvin 75th (9:12).