If Simon Yates was one clear winner on Tuesday`s stage 16 time trial where he extended his overall lead at the Vuelta a España, then Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo) was another, after moving onto the overall podium with a spectacularly good performance. Briefly the fastest rider on the rolling 32-kilometre course when he flashed through the first checkpoint ahead of eventual stage winner Rohan Dennis (BMC), Kruijswijk faded a little in the second part - but only a little. Come the finish, the Dutchman was fourth on the stage, 51 seconds down and together with Enric Mas (Quick-Step Floors), was one of only two GC challengers to put time into Yates.ADVERTISEMENT In Kruijswijk`s case, the 37-second gain on Yates has placed him on the provisional overall podium in the third spot, 28 seconds up on Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) and 42 seconds ahead of Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Pro Team). LottoNL-Jumbo sports director Addy Engels was quietly delighted with his rider`s success, saying that it was `a great time trial. He made a big gap on Quintana and Lopez, I didn`t expect it to be so big, but he also got a bit on Yates and Valverde, and that was still a good gap.` Engels said that although Kruijswijk had made an excellent start, they never thought he could actually win the stage, because `we knew Rohan would gain a lot of time in the second part.
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