Victor Campenaerts lost time in the fourth stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and slipped from 12th place in the overall standings. The stage over the difficult Xorret de Catí climb was won by Wout Poels (Team Sky). The Dutchman strengthened his lead in the overall standings.

The stage was coloured by seven escapees who got away after a long battle. At the foot of the last climb, the steep Xorret de Catí, the seven were caught by the peloton. Victor Campenaerts was well positioned by Tom Leezer and Paul Martens at the foot of the climb but it soon became clear that this is just too much for the time trialist.

"We couldn't play a role in the final," said sports director Merijn Zeeman. "Tom and Paul did a good job and positioned Victor well at the foot of the climb. But he lost time. Now he knows where he needs to improve towards the future. "

The youngsters of Team LottoNL-Jumbo were instructed today by the team management to be in the front group.

"It was a long and especially hard fight today. After 71 kilometers, the lead group rode away. This experience was perfect for Koen Bouwman and Alexey Vermeulen because now they know what it takes to be in a break in a pro-race," Zeeman added. "This is a valuable experience for the youngsters. It was indeed a very hard race today. "

Before the stage Victor Campenaerts was 12th in the overall standings. The young time trialist of Team LottoNL-Jumbo wants to develop himself especially for these kind of races.

"That was a really tough climb. My day was not as great today. I was fully protected by the team, but from the beginning it was super fast and I had to climb at my highest tempo. But with those top climbers, you simply lose too much time. Tomorrow will be another important day for us. I'm going to focus on that now."

"Tomorrow is a relatively flat and short stage, 110 kilometres. Halfway is a climb that we have to survive with Dylan. And then six laps will follow in the centre of Valencia. I expect a bunch sprint," Merijn Zeeman concluded.