LottoNL-Jumbo’s Steven Kruijswijk maintained his lead on yesterday’s 17th stage of the Giro d’Italia to Cassano d’Adda. Roger Kluge (IAM Cycling) won the stage and Kruijswijk placed 30th, still with an advantage of three minutes over Esteban Chaves (Orica – GreenEDGE).
Unlike the previous stage, a breakaway went clear immediately. Daniel Oss (BMC), Eugert Zhupa (Wilier Triestina-Southeast) and Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff) managed to build a lead of more than five minutes. Trek-Segafredo and Lampre–Merida) controlled the peloton and right behind, the men of LottoNL-Jumbo kept the pink jersey at the front.
After the second intermediate sprint, three men crossed over to the leaders. Not much later, the peloton also joined and it looked like it would finish in a bunch sprint. Roger Kluge (IAM Cycling), however, shot free with a late attack.
“It was not an easy ride”, said LottoNL-Jumbo’s Directeur Sportif Addy Engels. “There were good riders in front that were not dangerous for us. The sprinters teams had to ride hard in the pursuit. We rode well just behind, but the twists and turns made it difficult.”
Kruijswijk finished with the other favourites and the overall remained the same, three minutes on Chaves and 3-32 on Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).
“This was probably the last easy day. I enjoyed it and tried to save as much energy as possible,” Kruijswijk said.
He faces the longest stage of the Giro tomorrow with the Pramartino climb before Pinerolo. “It is a long day with a tough final, I have to be up there and make sure I climb it well and don’t lose time.”
“We have to pay attention tomorrow,” Engels said of the 240-kilometre stage. “The distance and especially that climb in the end, makes it a dangerous stage. After 220 kilometres, 4.6 kilometres uphill, averaging 10.5%, will hurt.”
