Steven Kruijswijk ended-up fourteenth in the individual time trial of the Vuelta a España. By doing so, Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s 30-year-old rider could win some time over his competitors. Kruijswijk is now thirteenth in the general classification and the difference with the top ten is limited.

However, Kruijswijk had hoped for more. “It didn’t go as planned”, he said afterwards. “On a circuit like this, you have to find your rhythm very fast. It was a fast time trial and that doesn’t suit me. I didn’t have enough power. Nevertheless, I had a good rest on the rest day. That’s important, because some difficult stages are yet to come. I’m already looking forward to them.”

Stef Clement ended-up sixteenth, but his ambitions were higher. “It wasn’t a good time trial at all”, he stated. “I lacked some power. But my shape is still good after two tough weeks. I tried my best again, but the legs weren’t good enough. It has been a difficult Vuelta so far.”