Robert Gesink (Belkin) was one of the riders that lost a bit of time in today's tough mountain stage of the Vuelta a Espana. However, he still managed to climb one spot on GC which was an unexpected outcome on a day when he never felt fresh.

Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM's Robert Gesink moved up to eighth overall in the steepest climb of this year's Vuelta a España. Gesink crossed the line atop the brutally steep Camperona climb 24th on the stage, 4:02 behind stage-winner Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp). He climbed up one spot on GC to eighth, now 4:14 behind race leader Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo). 

"It was hard. It wasn't my best day, that's for sure. If this has been the worst, than I cannot be too sad about it. I was suffering all day," Gesink said. "I wasn't feeling fresh, but you never feel fresh after two weeks of racing. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day. If you feel this bad every day, and you keep climbing spots on GC, it's not too bad, is it?" 
 

Wilco Kelderman fought his way up the steep gradient of the Camperona climb, riding close to Gesink to finish 26th on the stage, slotting into 14th overall. 

"It was OK in the end. I am satisfied with this result today. In the beginning, it was hard," Kelderman said. "When the group went away, with [Robert] Wagner, that was good to have him there. On the second-to-last climb, it already was hard for me. At the end, I rode my own tempo up the hill." 
 

Belkin's Robert Wagner, a sprinter who usually rides in the " grupetto " in the big mountain stages, found himself in the day's main breakaway. He was later able to help tow Gesink and Kelderman toward the final climb. 

"I found myself in the breakaway of the day after a lot of jumping. The goal was to pass the first category climb of 22km, and that was not easy," Wagner said. "I had to hang on, so I could I help them and support them, give them some water bottles. It was very hard. Usually I am in the very last group. That is no secret." 
 

Belkin Sports Director Erik Dekker expressed satisfaction after the first of three decisive mountaintop finales at the Spanish tour.

"It was really hard today. Robert wasn't feeling too good, and neither was Wilco," Dekker said. "They came together near the top, and, at the end of the day, they were OK. Maybe they were not the best in the Vuelta today, but it wasn't bad." 

The 69th Vuelta continues Sunday with the 152.2km 15th stage from Oviedo to Lagos de Covadonga, featuring the longest uphill finale so far.