Apparently that was the thought of the entire peleton.
Surely the perfect weather didn't make it better.
But at least you could do serious attempts, dying with the boots on.
Ofc. not as careful calculations, but as bombardments of surprises, all other captains dare to lose everything - yeah silly, but reason why I mean the race needs brains parked in the bus.
For instance starting the bombardment already from Mont-Le-Soie, feasable for solid long pull with lieutenants and some primes, and then early serious counter consecutive Stockeu - Haute-Levée combo with Nys, Ciccone, Healy, Ala, Remco, etc. Just endless counter attacks to break the shields of UAE, and if Pogi joins, just counter attacks galore.
Yes it's with maximum risks.
But not risking, you've already lost.