Steven Kruijswijk finished in the sixth stage of the Giro d'Italia in Terme Luigiane today together with the race’s top competitors. Team LottoNL-Jumbo's captain placed fourteenth behind winner Silvan Dillier, who was the fastest of the breakaway. Bob Jungels, after the steep climb to the finish of the spa town, remains the overall leader after another day.

"We really had to be in the front in the final and that went well," said Kruijswijk. "It was an easy stage before the final. The final was very technical with many corners and a difficult descent. "

The riders rode with a tailwind from Reggio Calabria and the early breakaway quickly took a big lead. They held off the fast charging peloton to the finish by 39 seconds.

"I was good in the race and I finished with the other GC riders. That was the intention today," added Kruijswijk. "It’s so much better when you descent with the first ten. It's almost sprinting in every corner, but you're good in the front.

Fortunately, I had enough left to do that every time. "Kruijswijk continues to recover from his crash during the fourth stage to Mount Etna.

"I'm not physically feeling great yet, but I'm glad I'm in front on such an arrival. On these kinds of days it's important to not lose time. Tomorrow, it's another difficult finish and it's important to finish ahead and not to lose a second. Sunday to Blockhaus, I really have to be there. "