The Team LottoNL-Jumbo riders came through the toughest stage in Tirreno-Adriatico today without any problems. The snow on Monte Terminillo did not stop the team, which finished in various positions behind stage winner and new race leader, Nairo Quintana (Team Movistar).    

“It was a long, hard day,” Sports Director Nico Verhoeven said to the LottoNL-Jumbo website. “There was a group of leaders, who broke away early in the stage, which contained a few riders who were well-placed in the general classification. That forced the peloton to keep a high pace. They wanted to keep the gap small enough. On the last climb it began to snow. Not everyone is able to handle that. Many riders abandoned the race, but our riders pulled through. That’s a good sign and we’re improving."    

A stage like this is a test for Laurens ten Dam, specifically because he just recovered from a period of illness.

“But I’m experienced enough to protect myself,” Ten Dam said. “You have to wear enough clothes in circumstances like this, and I did. I’m feeling good, anyway, I’ve got the feeling that I’m improving. Obviously, you hope for more, but I know I can’t expect that I’m able to deliver more than I do at this moment.”    

On Monday, it’s not going to be an easy stage either. The riders will face some tough climbs in the beginning of the stage before the roads turn flat.

“The weather will be bad again, too,” Verhoeven added. “That makes it a little more dangerous, but maybe it’s a day in which we are able to show ourselves again. I don’t know how the riders will react to today’s stage. We’ll see.”