Steven Kruijswijk of Belkin Procycling has shown some promises in the early age but the well documented injury woes significantly slowed down his progress as a future grand tour contender. Now, with a faith that the health problems has been eventually left behind, the 26-year old Dutchman hopes to regain his pre-injury level and establish his position as a one of the Belkin leaders alongside Mollema, Gesing and Kelderman.

Recording respectable results in his first season under the Rabobank Cycling Team banner, highlighted by third place in the Tour de Swisse general classification with one stage win claimed in the process and finishing the Giro d’Italia eight overall with three top ten results on stages, there were good reasons for Dutch cycling enthusiasts to believe they have a new and highly capable grand tour contender.

The history had taken a different course, however, as the returning injury issues stopped the development of the young Dutchman. Kruijswijk has struggled with his legs since 2007 having the femoral artery narrowing disgnosed and underwent first surgery back then, but the problem popped up again in 2012 and prevented him from performing on the expected level.

The 26-year old Belkin rider have undergone the second operation meant to enable blood to circulate in his legs properly last year and now is looking to put his problems behind him as he participates in the Tour de Langkawi this week.

"I guess after what I showed two years ago, I should be able to get the same level now. I'm hopeful for that and I'm going to work on it," Kruijswijk told Cyclingnews ahead of stage 6 of the Tour de Langkawi.

"Every race from now on, I just want to get some results. I'm not just specifically working towards one race or another, but I am hoping at the Giro I can be at my best level."

Even though the first surgery didn’t solve the problem and there is a serious threat of the recurrence, Kruijswijk optimistically believes that things will turn out differently this time around.

"I hope that they've fixed it for the rest of my career now. Fingers crossed that they will be good now."

As the Belkin roster is full or young and promising grand tour contenders with Robert Gesink having a well established authority, Bauke Mollema having excelled over the expectations in the last year’s Tour the France edition and Wilco Kelderman being considered no less then exceptionally talented, Kruijswijk will be forced to dig deep to gain himself a right to lead the Dutch team. Despite a stiff competition, the 26-year old rider believes he will be provided with his own chances while sharing the leadership duties with his team-mates while barging his way back to the top of the Belkin tree.

It has been already confirmed that Kruijswijk will ride the Giro d’Italia alongside Kelderman, as well as Vuelta a Catalunya and Vuelta a Espana as a second grand tour appearance this season.

"There are a lot of races and we can't always start together in the same races, we have to divide the team. I am getting my own chances," he said to Cyclingnews.

"I am going to the Giro together with (Wilco) Kelderman, so I will get my chances from the team. After this race, I will do Catalunya and further on in the season I will do the Vuelta."

With the Tour de Langkawi being his second race this season, the 26-year old Dutchmen had his recently operated legs seriously tested for the first time on the queen stage to Genting Highlands and managed to deliver with a highly satisfying result, finishing seventh behind the surprising winner.

"I did the best I could. So that was the maximum for that day, so I'm happy with that,” he explained.

“My legs have certainly got better now. Actually it was a big test, riding uphill that long. I think the test succeeded so I think I can look forward to the rest of the season."

While his team-mate Theo Bos is hunting for stage victories, Kruijswijk will certainly hope to defend his position within the top ten in the Langkawi’s general classification when the race comes to its conclusion on Saturday.