Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo) was in Italy recently to study the route of stage 15 of the Giro d’Italia to Bergamo, which will also form part of the Felice Gimondi Granfondo on May 7. He was guided and encouraged by Gimondi from a Bianchi team car, with the three-time Giro winner forgoing his Italian loyalties and tipping Kruijswijk to win the 100th edition of the race.
Kruijswijk finished fourth in the 2016 Giro d’Italia. He lead the race for five days only to crash on the descent of the Colle dell’Agnello on stage 19. He bravely fought to limit his losses but could not stop Esteban Chaves and then Vincenzo Nibali from taking the maglia rosa.
Despite his disappointment, Kruijswijk has confirmed he will back to target the Giro d’Italia in 2017. He opted to stay with LottoNL-Jumbo, and the Dutch team, despite a limited budget, has worked to strengthen the squad for the Giro d’Italia. Jurgen van den Broeck and Stef Clements have been hired, and LottoNL-Jumbo is focusing on the Giro d’Italia far more than the Tour de France.
"Winning in Bergamo would be cool, and great for Bianchi too. But the main goal for me in 2017 is the whole Giro d’Italia and the most important stage for me is the last one, to take the pink jersey to the finish in Milan and so back to Holland and of course back to Bianchi," Kruijswijk said after his ride in the Bergamo hills, knowing the Bianchi headquarters are only a few kilometres away in Treviglio, east of Milan.
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"I hope I can do better than in 2016. It was great to wear the maglia rosa for five days. I was hugely disappointed after being so close to winning, but I want to comeback and win it this year."
Kruijswijk moved to Monaco during the winter and admits he often rides from France into Italy to train on the climbs and enjoy an Italian coffee. He is also familiar with the Bergamo region and combined his visit to Bergamo with a day of Giro d’Italia reconnaissance.
"I know Bergamo from racing Il Lombardia, so I know the area," he said. "It’s important to the roads on key stages of the Giro d’Italia and I rode the Selvino and the finale into Bergamo Alto, the old part of the city on the hill. It’s good to know what climbs to expect in the Giro and see the route of the Gran Fondo. I just hope it’s a little bit warmer for me in the Giro and for the Gran Fondo riders on May 7.
All for the Giro at LottoNL-Jumbo
Gimondi cheers for Kruijswijk rather than Nibali
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