Kruijswijk and Oomen hold their own in first mountain stage Catalunya
Steven Kruijswijk and Sam Oomen have come through the first mountain stage in the Volta a Catalunya well. After the third stage, the leaders of Team Jumbo-Visma occupy places ten and eleven in the general classification. Tom Dumoulin did not feel well during the stage and abandoned the race.
In the descent of the second climb of the day, the Collada de Toses, Team Jumbo-Visma rode to the front of the bunch, quickly reducing the breakaway riders' lead. On the final climb, Ben O'Conner made the decisive attack. Kruijswijk and Oomen finished in a depleted peloton, nine seconds behind winner O'Connor.
Sports director Merijn Zeeman saw Dumoulin abandon halfway through the stage. "We didn't think before the stage started that Tom would not finish today. We knew that he is not at top level at the moment. During the stage he said that he wasn't feeling well. We now have to consult with the medical staff to see what we can do."
Zeeman saw the rest of the team riding attentively again. "On that last climb there was a strong headwind, making it difficult to develop a high tempo. It's great that the winner stayed in front alone. Sam and Steven did a great job today. They rode up as hard as possible and came across the finish line in a depleted peloton. Thanks also to Rohan and Robert, who rode well in support all day."