Martijn Keizer finished 10th in the Tour de Romandie prologue this afternoon. The time trial specialist of Team LottoNL-Jumbo finished the four kilometres around La Chau-de-Fonds 12 seconds behind winner Ion Izaguirre (Movistar). Wilco Kelderman slipped and fell during his race, and lost 33 seconds.

“I’m not satisfied with my time trial, but a 10th place in a WorldTour race isn’t bad,” Keizer said. “It was difficult for me to find the right focus. I just returned from a three-week training camp at altitude so I didn’t race since four weeks.

“It was a day full of doubt. It was a strange time trial with a steep climb in it. That’s why I didn’t start on my time trial bike. The weather changed all the time, as well. When you look at my preparation, this tenth place is fine, but I want to climb into the top five of the Giro d’Italia’s prologue.”

Concussion

With his 10th place, Keizer highlighted a gloomy first day in Switzerland for Team LottoNL-Jumbo. Wilco Kelderman and Victor Campenaerts both crashed during their runs.

“It wasn’t the best day in my cycling career,” Sports Director Frans Maassen said. He saw Campenaerts misjudge a turn and taken to the hospital. “He broke some teeth and his nose and has a concussion. In a moment of distraction, he went straight in the first right-hand turn.” Given the circumstances, Campenaerts is doing well, but has to spend the night in the hospital.

Kelderman didn’t suffer as much damage. “He was very fast uphill and was heading for a strong result,” Maassen continued. “It was raining heavily during his race and he fell on the descent. That was a pity. He went for it and took some risks, but it’s not over yet. Most of the top favourites in the general classification weren’t too much faster and his abrasions aren’t too bad either.”

The first stage of the Tour de Romandie is going to be an unpredictable one. The stage might end up in a bunch sprint, but the weather could help produce a different outcome.

“The weather is going to be bad,” Maassen said. “I think that Movistar will control the race for their leader. It would be good for us if the stage ends up in a sprint.”