Alejandro Valverde has said that half his mission is complete after taking victory on stage sixteen of the Giro D'Italia.
The Movistar rider declared in the press conference: “I came to the Giro with two goals: to win a stage and to finish on the podium. Half of the mission is now accomplished and I’ve moved into the top three for now, although I’m aware that Nibali who is a born attacker will try and knock me off the podium. From what we’ve seen today, Kruijswijk is the strongest and I believe he’ll be the champion at the end of the race. However, my first victory at the Giro is a great emotion. I am really enjoying this race!”.
Maglia Rosa Steven Kruijswijk said in the press conference: “It may have looked like I was in control, but there were a lot of attacks in the first part of the race. I reacted rapidly to the attacks from Nibali, Valverde, etc. I was always in a good position. With ten riders at the front, it was an ideal situation for me. It was a short stage and maybe not the race of my life, although, to keep my leadership this week, I think I’ll have to ride all the stages as if they were the race of my life!”.
Maglia Bianca Bob Jungels: “I saw at last year’s Tour de France that I can be really good in the last week of a Grand Tour. Yesterday I felt really good… on the rollers! Therefore, I wanted to give it a try today as the day after a rest day is harder for the older guys (laugh). There were a lot of attacks, so we went full gas all day long. I kept my rhythm. This is my weakness and my strength: I’m able to maintain a high rhythm but I struggle when it’s too steep with changes of rhythm. If I finish seventh of the Giro, I’ll say this is crazy but I prefer to keep my feet on the ground. There are two stages at a really high altitude to come and I hope the weather will be OK so it’ll help me defend my position overall and the Maglia Bianca”.
FINAL RESULT
1 - Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) - 132km in 2h58'54", ave. 44.270km/h
2 - Steven Kruijswijk (Team Lotto NL - Jumbo) s.t.
3 - Ilnur Zakarin (Team Katusha) at 8"
JERSEYS
- Maglia Rosa (pink), General Classification, sponsored by Enel - Steven Kruijswijk (Team Lotto NL - Jumbo)
- Maglia Rossa (red), Sprint Classification, sponsored by Algida - Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek - Segafredo)
- Maglia Azzurra (blue), Mountains Classification, sponsored by Banca Mediolanum - Damiano Cunego (Nippo - Vini Fantini)
- Maglia Bianca (white), Young Rider Classification, sponsored by Eurospin - Bob Jungels (Etixx - Quick-Step)
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 - Steven Kruijswijk (Team Lotto NL - Jumbo)
2 - Esteban Chaves (Orica Greenedge) at 3'00"
3 - Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) at 3'23"
4 - Vincenzo Nibali (Astana Pro Team) at 4'43"
5 - Ilnur Zakarin (Team Katusha) at 4'50"
STATISTICS
- First victory at the Giro d’Italia for Alejandro Valverde, on the day of the 61st anniversary of the first Spanish win at the Corsa Rosa, by Bernardo Ruiz at Frascati in 1955. This is the 106th Spanish stage victory at the Giro d’Italia
- At the age of 36, Alejandro Valverde is the oldest stage winner at the 99th Giro d’Italia so far. Paolo Tiralongo was older (37) when he won stage 9 last year
- Valverde enters the club of 84 riders who have won at least one stage in each of the three Grand Tours (9 at the Vuelta a España, 4 at the Tour de France and now 1 at the Giro d’Italia)
- Steven Kruijswijk came second in the past three stages (finishing at Corvara, Alpe di Siusi and Andalo) behind riders who conquered their first victory at the Giro d’Italia (Esteban Chaves, Alexander Foliforov and Alejandro Valverde). The Dutchman is yet to take his first stage win.