Organisers were forced to rethink plans yesterday after the Dutch Government advised against non-essential travel between Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague due to a rise in the number of coronavirus cases, along with banning large gatherings.

This led to the cancellation of yesterday’s second stage, as well as adapting subsequent days with routes now avoiding entering the Netherlands.

Aalter stepped in to host today’s 157 kilometre stage, which saw riders complete seven laps of a course in the Belgian town.

Dutch riders Oscar Riesebeek and Pim Ligthart featured in an early breakaway with Belgium’s Kenneth Van Rooy.

The trio were later joined by Belgium’s Jonas Rickaert and France’s Adrien Petit.

The breakaway achieved a maximum gap of three minutes to the peloton, which kept the move under control.

Rickaert was the final member of the breakaway to be caught with less than three kilometres to go as a bunch sprint was set up in damp conditions.

Germany’s Pascal Ackerman launched the sprint but was unable to hold off his compatriot Jasper Philipsen and Pedersen.

Former world champion Pedersen secured victory in a time of 3 hours 26min and 11sec after edging past Philipsen.

Ackermann placed third on the same time as the winner.

Pedersen moved into the race lead with the stage win, with the Trek-Segafredo rider targeting winning the general classification before riding the upcoming one-day classics.

"Fortunately, there is a short time trial on the programme tomorrow, which must suit me well," Pedersen said.

"On Saturday there is another interesting stage in the Flemish Ardennes on the menu, an ideal ride to open the throttle completely again.

"I will be there to do everything to secure the overall victory.

"It is good to live towards the classics with a victory.

"Especially in these uncertain times, every race can be the last of the year.

"Then you better do everything you can to take as much as possible with you."

Pedersen leads the International Cycling Union WorldTour event courtesy of his higher placing on the stage to Philpsen, who lies second.

Rickaert is third in the standings, seven seconds behind the top two.

A revised fourth stage tomorrow will see Riemst host an 8.1 kilometre individual time trial.

The final 187.64km stage is expected to be unchanged.

The stage will depart from the Belgian town of Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve and then finish with four laps around Geraardsbergen, climbing three ascents of the Denderoordstraat, Bosberg and the Muur van Geraardsbergen.