LottoNL-Jumbo cruised through the Giro d’Italia’s last ‘easy day’ to Tortona with the mountains final stages looming. The Dutch team finished in the group, with Enrico Battaglin taking 43^rd in the 13^th stage won by Fernando Gaviria. Steven Kruijswijk holds 12th overall behind leader Tom Dumoulin.

An escape of three men rode free in the early hours of the 167-kilometre stage from Reggio Emilia. The sprinter teams made it a classic stage, playing cat and mouse with them as the finish line neared.

"It was an easy stage until the last 25 kilometres," said Martijn Keizer after finishing. "The wind rose, so did the riders’ nerves. You just try to save energy on such a day. Tomorrow and Sunday, the stages are difficult again."

Sports Director Jan Boven had his men organised in the final when the wind blew strongly from the side. Those men kept leader Steven Kruijswijk at the front of the peloton, away from the danger zone.

"In the final, it was quite open and the wind took hold of the peloton," said Boven. "The team handled this well. So there was not much stress. Now we aim towards tomorrow."

The Giro d'Italia’s 14^th on Saturday finishes uphill at the Oropa Sanctuary.