LottoNL-Jumbo’s Wilco Kelderman crossed the line in sixth in the Ruta Ciclista Del Sol on Friday after a steep final climb. Race leader Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) snatched the stage victory on the Alto de Hazallanas and Chris Froome placed second.

“I’m very pleased with how the team and I are doing so far,” Kelderman said. The 23-year-old Dutchman began the Spanish stage race on Wednesday with a second place in stage 1b time trial.“The morale in the team is high, and you could see that again today. My team-mates dropped me off perfectly at the front ahead of the final climb."

It was every man for himself not long after the pack began the Alto de Hazallanas.

“It wasn’t very exciting,” Kelderman said. “The race exploded with seven kilometres to go, when it started to get really steep. Everyone decided to keep his own pace. Normally, a steep climb isn’t really my thing, but today it went quite well.”

Kelderman thinks Saturday’s stage could see a similar final. After 202 kilometres, the peloton climbs the Alto de Allanadas, which is steep, but not as long as Hazallanas.

“I hope to get involved at the front again. I’m not a factor in the overall anymore, but I’ll give what I have in order to get a good result on the stage.”