Robert Gesink (Belkin) brought a fine showing in the Tour Down Under to an end when he defended his 6th place in the race's final stage, a flat criterium in Adelaide. The Dutchman was pleased with his good start to the season and is already looking at how he can improve in the future.

Robert Gesink concluded the Tour Down Under on Sunday as overall sixth. The position of the Belkin Pro Cycling Team rider wasn’t jeopardized in the sixth and final stage, a 85,5 kilometre criterium through Adelaide.

André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) was the strongest in a bunch kick and claimed the stage victory. Gesink finished 22nd and was the best Team Belkin rider of the day. 

Gesink looked back with satisfaction on the team’s time in Australia after the last stage.

“It’s been a very good race," said the Dutchman, who’s only disappointment was the collarbone fracture of David Tanner. “All my teammates worked hard and thanks to them I was able to compete at the front.” 
 

Gesink believes he’s ready for the rest of the season after the Tour Down Under.

“This was a good start of the season," he said. "Of course, we’d rather won something as a team, but on the other hand, we were among the best in the World Tour this week. I feel that I’m in a good shape.” 

 

Gesink is pleased with the professional way the team approached the first race of the season.

“We took the race very serious and we did everything we could to be good here," he said. "We reached a high level. Maybe next year we could travel to Australia a little bit earlier. We were well acclimatized, don’t get me wrong, but if we could have done a good training block here, maybe we would have been slightly better. It could be an idea for the future. We always look for ways to innovate.”

Gesink will next do the Tour of Oman which he won in 2011.