Everything is still going according to plan for Steven Kruijswijk after the sixth stage of the Giro d’Italia, the first with a mountain top finish. Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s leader finished 11th and maintained his fifth position in the general classification. Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal) won the stage.

“Everything went as planned for Steven Kruijswijk,” Sports Director Addy Engels said. “You’re never sure about your level before the first mountain stage, but we’re looking strong. It’s good to see that Primoz Roglic, after recovering from his crash for two days, was again at his level. He stayed with Steven until the final four kilometres. If he’s able to hold that, he will be very useful for Steven in this Giro. That relaxes Steven, and that’s important.”

Sacrificed

Kruijswijk already said after the fourth stage that he profited from the confidence of his team-mates. “Today, the team brought him to the right position,” Engels continued. “We planned to be in front on the descent to the final climb and we succeeded. Our men sacrificed for Steven in that part and Primoz supported him afterwards.”

Not too much damage

“The way the team is riding together is great,” Kruijswijk added. “All the guys are very strong and I never have to deliver too much. That makes it a lot easier for me. I have to do it by myself in the final part of the race and I feel good about the way I did so today. The only thing that I can blame myself for is that I wasn’t attentive enough when Tom Dumoulin (Giant - Alpecin) attacked. It wasn’t as steep at the end of the climb so I didn’t want to spend too much power on that part of the climb. I was expecting Astana to bridge towards the group with Dumoulin, as well. The damage isn’t too big anyway, so I’m satisfied about today.”

Friday’s stage seems to be another chance for the sprinters. “There is a fourth categorised climb with 40 kilometres to go, but it goes across a very broad road,” Engels explained. “It won’t be too difficult to control the race so it should end up in a bunch sprint.”