After finishing fourth, Wilco Kelderman was one of the winners in today's queen stage of the Giro d'Italia but the young Dutchman was not completely satisfied with the outcome. Believing that the descent from the Stelvio had been neutralized, he stopped to put on a raincoat and so saw Pierre Rolland pass him in the overall standings.

Wilco Kelderman managed fourth place today in the epic 16th stage of the Giro d’Italia. After taming the snowy Gavia and Stelvio passes, only three riders placed higher than the Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM’s Dutchman on the final climb up through Val Martello. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) won the stage and took the race leader’s pink jersey. 

On the final climb, Kelderman was part of a group including Rigoberto Urán and Cadel Evans, the two riders leading the race at the beginning of the day. In the final two kilometres, the 23-year-old attacked in order to reduce the gap to the leading group with Quintana, Ryder Hesjedal and Pierre Rolland. 

“The final climb suited me really well, and after a number of attacks by others, I felt that I was one of the strongest in our group. I accelerated and distanced the rest easily. Then I just kept going until the line.” 

The Gavia and Stelvio passes created two major obstacles due not only to their difficulty, but also due to the weather. Snow and freezing temperatures plagued the riders. 

“It was a very special day,” said Kelderman. “I’m happy you don’t often experience days like this. The climb of the Gavia was not too bad, but during the descent, it started too snow very heavily. It was terribly cold and my hands felt like lumps. It was dangerous, as well, because I could no longer see through my glasses. 

“While climbing the Stelvio, I warmed up again. At the top, I took my time to put on a raincoat as the jury had announced that the downhill would be neutralised. When I made my way back to the main group, however, Quintana, Hesjedal and Rolland were gone.

"Looking back on that, it’s a bit unfair because I wouldn’t have stopped if I hadn’t heard about the neutralisation. Rolland is now ahead of me in the overall. Normally, I think I could have followed him.” 

Kelderman now sits eighth overall. The classification differences are small, however. The gap between Evans (third) and Hesjedal (ninth) is only 55 seconds. 

“With a little bit of luck you can move up quickly,” Kelderman said. “But everything is still possible. A top ten remains my main goal.” 

Sports Director Frans Maassen was in his car during the stage and witnessed first-hand how much the riders were suffering. 

"Of course, Wilco did a fantastic job, but today was no joke. It was irresponsible, horrible. I saw riders cry and some of them were even suffering from hypothermia. No, it was no fun at all. It was a bizarre day. 

“The organisation told the sports directors that the descent of the Stelvio would be neutralised, but now they’re claiming that the message was only meant to warn us of the descent. 

“All of our men survived today, but this stage should’ve never taken place. It’s too bad that the teams don’t come together, be unambiguous and make a statement.” 

The GC riders will try to recuperate as much as possible on Wednesday. The 17th stage suits the sprinters or an escape group.

“We would like to be part of the breakaway tomorrow as an attack really stands a chance,” said Maassen.