After crashing out of the Giro d'Italia, Steven Kruijswijk is returning to competition in this week's Tour de Suisse. With no sprinters on the roster, he had an easy stage today and is feeling better ahead of the decisive stages in the weekend.

Stef Clement finished 17th in Wednesday’s fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse as the Dutchman was the best Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM rider of the day. Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida) won the stage in a bunch kick. There were no major changes in the overall standings, and Bauke Mollema remained fourth. 

“It was a quiet day,” said Steven Kruijswijk after the stage. “Today’s stage was always going to be a bunch sprint. The other teams kept the breakaway in check today, so I was able to save my strength for the second half of the race, along with Stef Clement, Laurens ten Dam and Bauke Mollema. The final days are going to be heavy.” 

Kruijswijk is improving by the day in Switzerland.

“I’m getting better every day. I still experience some discomfort from my training on altitude. Sometimes you’re on a good level straight away, this time it takes a little bit longer.”
 

Last week, Sports Director Jan Boven did a recon of today’s final. He also trained in the region as a professional, and knew that the last kilometres would be hectic, so he warned his riders in advance.

“It’s good that we made it through unscathed, despite a crash. I have trained in this area for 10 years.” 

Thursday’s sixth stage leads the pack from Buren a. Aare to Delémont. After 183 kilometres and three climbs of the first, second and third category, a selective group is likely to sprint for the victory. 

“Tomorrow’s stage will start gently, but the final is going to be harder,” Boven said. “We want to assist Bauke, Stef and Laurens ten Dam as good as possible, so that they can do a good climb and descent to the line.”