All of team LottoNL-Jumbo’s cyclists use Pioneer power meters on their bikes to record their performance data. High Performance Manager Mathieu Heijboer uses two graphs to show how Robert Gesink’s performances can be reflected in the data.

“For 20-minute values, are you able to see that Robert rides two times around 400 watts in the Tour de L’Ain. That was his maximum performance then. After two days of recovery, he was able to reach a higher peak already. At the start of the Vuelta, he had some lesser values. Robert didn’t feel very good there and he wasn’t riding full-gas on purpose. Then you see his highest peak of 442 watts on the Covadonga, the stage where placed second. That is his best 20-minute value of last month. It is clearly visible that his condition was improving.”

“On the climb of the Aubisque, where he won, it’s a lower value. Leading up to the Covadonga, the stage was a lot less difficult and they climbed 2200 metres before the last climb. In the stage to the Aubisque, they climbed 3900 metres and rode much further. Robert told me that he had to stand on the pedals during the climb of the Aubisque because otherwise he would get cramps in his legs. You are able to see that very well in the other graph when you look at the green bars. He is standing on the pedals around 50% of the time. At the end that is clearly visible.

“It would surprise me if he would do even better in the coming days. 442 watts is already high, and the last three days have been tough. Anyway, everyone is tired and perhaps he performs exceptionally once again."