Steven Kruijswijk secured fifth overall in Saturday’s final stage at the Tour de l’Ain. The Dutch rider on Team LottoNL-Jumbo placed eighth for the second day in a row to conclude the French stage race.     

AG2R-La Mondiale rider Pierre-Roger Latour won the stage while Frenchman Alexandre Geniez (FDJ) triumphed in the overall.     

“I deliberately saved my strength for the final part of the stage, and didn’t really try to attack early on,” Kruijswijk said. “In the final kilometres, I tried to bridge up to the leaders, but that was a no-go. I wasn’t strong enough, although I think my level was fine throughout the week. I didn’t know what to expect after racing the Giro and the Tour, but it wasn’t too bad.”     

According to Sport Director Erik Dekker, it was another fast day.

“But this time, compared to yesterday, there was more control. The break never got more than 1’30”, so the pace was high all day long. Steven played his part and fought for victory. That he couldn’t win was mainly due to the power of Alexandre Geniez, in my eyes. Many riders finished in the same time, and that was because he was able to control everything. “     

Dekker smiled when he checked over the result sheet of the stage.

“I think we rode better than yesterday. Timo Roosen and Nick van der Lijke finished as first of a second group, and Mike Teunissen and Twan Castelijns were involved until late in the stage, and kept a lot of riders behind them.”