The third stage in the Ruta del Sol went as expected for the riders of Team LottoNL-Jumbo. “Though the final was hectic”, sports director Addy Engels said. “There was a crash in the last kilometre and Enrico Battaglin couldn’t position himself in the sprint. Fortunately, our riders ended the stage safely.”

Steven Kruijswijk gained a place in the general classification after the Portugese Amaro Antunes abandoned the race. He is now tenth. “You don’t want to move up in the general classification like this”, Engels said. “Tomorrow’s stage will be explosive and difficult in the end. Afterwards, Steven can go for a good end result in the individual time trial.”