Steven Kruijswijk

March 10, 2013

Kruijswijk Holds onto Point d’Appui to Cap Paris-Nice

Steven Kruijswijk

Steven Kruijswijk

Steven Kruijswijk, the leading racer for Blanco Pro Cycling Team in the 2013 Paris-Nice stage race, has won the Point d’Appui, finishing at the middle of all 151 riders who finished Stage 7, the final stage of the race.

Kruijswijk grabbed hold of the fulcrum during Stage 6 and staved off competitors during the final time trial at Nice, despite some jockeying among other riders to slip into the middle spot. He finished 36 minutes and 19 seconds behind winner Richie Porte and 47 minutes and 31 seconds ahead of the Lanterne Rouge, David Millar of Garmin-Sharp.

The rider with the time closest to the overall Paris-Nice median was Martin Elmiger of IAM Cycling.

A recap of the stages:

  • Prologue – No fulcrum
  • Stage 1 – Jerome Cousin
  • Stage 2 – Jon Izagirre
  • Stage 3 – No fulcrum
  • Stage 4 – No fulcrum
  • Stage 5 – Stijn Vandenbergh
  • Stage 6 – Steven Kruijswijk
  • Stage 7 – Steven Kruijswijk
March 10, 2013

Field Narrows; Kruijswijk Holds Fulcrum Going into Finale

Steven Kruijswijk

Steven Kruijswijk

After 14 abandons during Stage 6 of the 2013 Paris-Nice spring classic, Steven Kruijswijk of the Blanco Pro Cycling Team found himself at the center of the overall race, the Point d’Appui, going into the final stage.

Kruijswijk is 33 minutes and 27 seconds behind race leader Richie Porte and 46 minutes and change ahead of Blanco teammate, Rick Flens, the latest Lanterne Rouge.

Surrounding Kruijswijk are notable contenders: Vasil Kiryienka, the Point d’Appui of the 2012 Tour de France, is just a place ahead, and Remi Pauriol, who held the Point d’Appui after Stage 2 of the 2012 Vuelta, is one second behind Kruijswijk.

Kruijswijk, who took a tumble earlier in the Paris-Nice race, saw some success in 2011 while riding under the RaboBank colors, reaching the podium of the Tour de Suisse as the third-place finisher. He also finished eighth at the Giro d’Italia. During Paris-Nice, he has been riding in support of teammate Robert Gesink, but Gesink bowed out of Paris-Nice before the end of Stage 6 along with two other Blanco riders, Mark Renshaw and Wilco Kelderman. This leaves Kruijswijk as the team leader for Blanco.

The rider with the time closest to median time for the overall race is once again Mattia Cattaneo of Lampre-Merida. Cattaneo held the median time after Stage 4 as well and also was on the cusp of the fulcrum after Stage 3.

On the stage, Ivan Basso of Cannondale finished at the fulcrum.