LottoNL-Jumbo placed seventh in the Volta a Catalunya’s team time trial today. Over 41.3 kilometres around the lake of Banyoles, the team clocked 50'43 " -- 1'48’ behind the winning team Movistar.

"It was a good time trial and it is not bad that we are seventh at WorldTour level,” said time trial specialist Victor Campenaerts.

"Robert Gesink and I were designated to lead the team in the TTT. That was successful, especially in the technical first part we rode well and we made sure there were no gaps.

"You can always go faster, but with this team, we can be happy with seventh. For example, teams like Movistar and BMC began with men suited to riding together in time trials."

De Haan

"We explored the first part and we didn’t lose much time there,” Sports director Sierk-Jan de Haan added. “In the technical section with the hairpins, we were good together. I couldn’t see a gap between the riders, which meant that cooperation was good. The riders performed well and thought of each other during the trial."

Tomorrow, the cyclists face some serious climbs. George Bennett, Robert Gesink and Steven Kruijswijk will lead the team uphill.

“We have three leaders to go with uphill,” de Haan said. “In addition, the team is selected to support those men as much as possible."