Steven Kruijswijk finished the Vuelta a España's 13th stage at La Camperona in a good way. The Team LottoNL-Jumbo cyclist lost just 20 seconds to Nairo Quintana and Simon Yates, but co-leader George Bennett, on a slightly off day, lost about a minute more.

In the overall rankings Kruijswijk moves up to ninth place, Bennett down fourteenth.

In the first of three stages with summit finishes, a large leading group broke clear from the start and eventually battled for the victory. Team LottoNL-Jumbo was not represented, instead working to put both of its leaders in position at the bottom of the steep final climb.

"This was all I could do today", Kruijswijk said. "On such a steep climb, I know that a few riders are better than me. But it was a good day for me after all. I had a good feeling and I finished quite OK. I rode my own pace and limited my losses. 

"Prior to the Vuelta, the big question was whether I would still have the condition of the Tour de France, but I think I proved today that my condition is still good. If I can keep this level until the rest day, then everything is still possible in the third week. It is certainly not over yet. "

"I was not having a really great day today," Bennett said. "It was a tough, fast stage. I did not have anything left on the final climb. 

"It is a little disappointing, but that is cycling. You have good and bad days, and today I had a bad day. I have tried to limit the time loss. The team worked well today and I will continue to do my best. There are still some tough stages to come."