Robert Gesink came through the first mountain stage of the Tour de Suisse without to many problems. The climber from Team LottoNL-Jumbo finished in a chasing group at 14 seconds from stage winner Kristijan Durasek (Lampre – Merida).

“He did the best he could today,” Sports Director Jan Boven said. “After the Tour of California, he went for a training camp and today, he was forced to ride up a four kilometre-long climb at full speed. You can’t practice an effort like that in training.”

The fact that Gesink wasn’t with the best uphill didn’t worry Boven.

“He has to improve a little, but there were only really explosive riders in front today. Robert is always struggling with explosive climbs, but finished around fifteen seconds back. That’s a result that fits with our goal.”

“It was tough today, but it went quite well,” Gesink said. “I did well for my ambitions in the general classification. I can be satisfied and I’m looking forward to the rest of the week.”
 

Monday’s stage is a hard one again.

“The start of the stage will be decisive for a big part of the peloton,” Boven said. “In the beginning of the stage, they face a tough ascent that goes over cobble stones for a while. After that climb, it’s a long descent. The riders have to focus on the last two climbs then. It’s going to be interesting to see how Paul Martens and Sep Vanmarcke come through those hills. Laurens ten Dam and Robert must hold their positions again tomorrow.”