“In the first time trial of the Giro d’Italia, I already had a good feeling, but then we had other priorities” Clement said. “Today, I did not have to wait for anyone. I don’t have to prove that I can ride a good time trial, but when you put everything into it, it is nice it finally works out. 

Clement sits 55 seconds behind overall leader Thomas De Gendt. He plans on defending that spot over the coming mountain passes. 

“We are going to make a plan together with the team day to day. Eventually on Sunday, we will see where that allows us to finish.” 

“We know Stef is a really good time trialist and he showed that today,” Sports Director Grischa Niermann said. “We had hoped for the podium, but Valverde was just a bit faster. Still, we were not let down. We hoped that Stef could compete with the best riders, and he did so in the end.” 

Yesterday, Koen Bouwman gave the team a win from an escape group with team-mate Alex Vermeulen. Niermann needed to manage the 23-year-old’s resources today. 

“We said to Koen Bouwman that he should take it easy today so that he may be able to compete for the mountains points again tomorrow. All the other riders went full-gas today. It’s part of the education for these young guys, to ride a time trial full-gas. For Antwan and Alexey, it resulted in a good time.” 

Tomorrow is a transition stage with a few smaller climbs. It will offer the sprinters their last chance because on Friday the race enters the Alps. 

“We are going to make a plan to defend Stef’s fourth place as well as possible tomorrow. But, Koen has the freedom to ride for mountain points again.”