Wilco Kelderman took over the lead in the Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco on Thursday afternoon in Spain. Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s climber attacked in the hard final kilometres of the fourth stage to make sure overall leader Mikel Landa (Team Sky) lost time. Kelderman finished eighth behind winner Samuel Sanchez (BMC Racing).

On Wednesday, Sports Director Addy Engels said that Kelderman and Robert Gesink had to keep on riding instinctively during the final stages of the País Vasco. Those tactics paid off today. The tough fourth stage in the Basque Country had a tricky final 2.5 kilometres, where Kelderman attacked. The Dutchman didn’t get any space, but made sure that the race exploded with Landa as the main victim. His eighth place in the stage was good enough to grab the yellow jersey.

Reward

“We were familiar with the final of the stage and we knew that there was a very tough part in the end,” Sports Director Merijn Zeeman said. “Wilco tried attack there instinctively. The fight is at the highest level in this race, so it’s great to see that Wilco and Robert are doing such a good job. They are confident and the rest of the team led them out perfectly to every key point in the stage. George Bennett got ill, unfortunately, and had to abandon the race, but the others did a fantastic job. Enrico Battaglin and Paul Martens were especially very important in the final of the stage. The leader’s jersey is a nice reward for the team.”

Initiative

Kelderman’s proved his form. “I’m feeling very strong,” he added. “I dared to take the initiative because I knew that there were not many riders who were able to go faster than me. When I attacked, I saw Alberto Contador accelerating. I had to go all in there, but I knew that if I would give everything, we wouldn’t be able to distance me.

“We really raced as a team. We were focused all the time and were always in the right place. Paul told me during the race that I had to try it on the final climb. I was in the right position and took my chance.”

The race’s queen stage is waiting for the riders on Friday. The stage ends up the Uzartza climb. “We are going to fight for it and enjoy it,” Zeeman said. “Nothing changes for us. The differences are still very small. Even now that we have the leader’s jersey, we keep on approaching this race day by day.”