Steven Kruijswijk will look back on his Giro d’Italia with nothing but pride, according to the Dutchman. The LottoNL-Jumbo rider finished seventh overall in Milan after a strong second half to the race. After the opening week of racing Kruijswijk found himself well out of contention for a top ten place but he battled back during the second and third weeks with dogged displays in the mountains.
He also came close to winning a stage and finished third in the King of the Mountains classification.
“It’s been a wonderful Giro. It went better than expected. I think I rode a very strong tour and have performed at my maximum. I was always there and showed myself every day. I ended up seventh and I’m very proud of that,” Kruijswijk said in a statement.
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Kruijswijk finished 10:53 down on race winner Alberto Contador but lost eight minutes in the opening week.
“I had to handle a big blow in the process, but I fought back. You can’t control everything in a three-week race. Some days are better, some less. That’s how a grand tour works.”
Sports Director Frans Maassen praised Kruijswijk’s mental fortitude in battling back from a difficult opening first week, in which at one point he sat well outside the top 20 overall.
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