Team LottoNL-Jumbo put a tough day behind them in the fast mountain stage to Alto Campoo Fuente del Chivo. The team played no significant role, instead the glory went to Italian Alessandro De Marchi (Team BMC). He won the 215-kilometre summit-finish stage and Fabio Aru maintained his overall lead.
 
It got off to a flying start, after 16 kilometres neutralisation, several riders fought to get out of the clutches of the peloton. After 60 kilometres, five riders managed to break clear, and calm was back in the peloton.
 
"It was a tough day. It was war from the beginning and it took a long time before a group got clear,” said Sports Director Merijn Zeeman.
 
"We fought to be in the break, Timo Roosen tried hard. When the five men were finally clear, the peloton was happy because it was hard and the riders had suffered a lot. The day was hard enough with that distance (230km) and the climbing metres. Our men have finished in the big gruppetto, and now it’s on to tomorrow."
 
Dennis van Winden
Dennis van Winden was the first rider of LottoNL-Jumbo to cross the line at the fog-filled Alto Campoo.

"Even after the five broke away the peloton kept a really high tempo till the third category climb," explained Dennis van Winden. "Only after that climb rest came. In the end I was in the ‘gruppetto’. It makes no sense to hold on. There will be following more difficult days.

Tomorrow
Tomorrow finishes on a summit again. The stage is 175-kilometres long and finishes up the steep Alto de Sotres.
 
"Tomorrow we will see if someone has the legs for attacking. We are now at the stage where everyone has to divide his strengths," added Zeeman. “We didn’t have an easy day in this race and always tried to attack. The riders are feeling that.”