Steven Kruijswijk proved that his legs were good on Sunday during the third and final stage of the Tour de Yorkshire. The Dutch LottoNL-Jumbo rider finished the 167-kilometre stage in the first group together with the big riders, finishing ninth on the day. The Belgian rider Ben Hermans (BMC) managed to stay ahead of the favourites and soloed to a stage win in Leeds.

“It went well today,” Kruijswijk said to the LottoNL-Jumbo website. “I’m glad that I was at the front in the final kilometres. I tried to do something, but that did not work out."

"I wasn’t sitting one hundred per cent comfortably on my bike after my crash in the first stage, but fortunately, I don’t have any major damage.”

His unfortunate tumble in the first stage made it impossible to finish high up in the overall. Nevertheless, the Dutchman will leave England confidently with the  Giro d'Italia coming up. The first grand tour of the year kicks off next Saturday in San Lorenzo.

“Of course, it would have been better to stay upright with the Giro approaching. Maybe a good overall would have been possible here as well then, but I think I still managed the race in good way today. I’m coming home on Monday and after a few days of rest, I should be ready for the Giro.”