The 13th stage of the Vuelta was a exhausting ride towards Urdax-Dantxarina for everyone, including Team LottoNL-Jumbo. In a walking-pace, the peloton finished more than half an hour after the winner. 12 riders escaped in the beginning and in the last 20 kilometers, the Italian Valerio Conti (Lampre) raced solo to victory. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) kept the leader's jersey.

"In the earlier stages, you saw in the first hours that it was a fight to get into the escape, now it was done after 25 kilometers. After several attempts a group of 12 men drove away. Without one of our riders, it was a missed opportunity," Sports Director Addy Engels said.

The 213-kilometre stage from Bilbao to Urdax-Dantxarinea started with several attacks. Also the riders from Team LottoNL-jumbo were involved. "We jumped in with Martijn Keizer, Victor Campenaerts, Jos van Emden and Bram Tankink, but then just missed the escape of the day. There was a moment when the peloton eased up and the breakaway left."

The peloton finished at 34 minutes from the winner. ”Despite that, it was not going fast, but it was very exhausting for the riders. You notice that fatigue is really there at the end of the second week. Combined with the heat it is such a long day, definitely, it's not great to be on the bike."

Tomorrow

"Tomorrow, we face the queen stage of the Vuelta," Engels added. "We have George Bennett and Robert Gesink, who kept quiet today, to do something. We need to go for the escape like in the stage where Gesink was second. We cannot wait until de GC-guys attack. You need to ensure that your lead is sufficient at the foot of the final heavy climb."