Steven Kruijswijk replaced Andrey Amador as leader of the 2016 Giro d’Italia on Saturday after a strong showing on stage 14 to finish second behind Colombian rider Esteban Chaves.
“I came here with big ambitions, but to have the pink jersey is something else,” Kruijswijk told Eurosport.
“I can’t believe I have it now, I’m really happy.”
Chaves won the 210 km ride between Farra d’Alpago and Corvara in Badia — the first mountain stage of this year’s Giro — beating Kruijswijk and Austrian rider Georg Preidler, who finished third.
“There is a lot of this race left and this is great, but we will see what happens tomorrow,” said Chaves.
The unfancied Colombian rider moves up to third in the general classification after a testing day in the Dolomites, while LottoNL’s Kruijswijk takes the pink jersey having demonstrated his consistency in the opening weeks of this year’s race.
Italian rider Vincenzo Nibali started strongly before succumbing to attacks from Kruijswijk and Chaves, but moves up to second overall, 41 seconds behind the Dutchman and still in the running for a second Giro title, after winning in 2013.
Amador, who became the first Costa Rican to lead the Giro after a fine showing on stage 13, finished in 14th and drops to fifth on the leaderboard. (Writing by Ed Dove; Editing by Toby Davis)
Stage 14 Brief Results:
- Esteban Chaves (Colombia / Orica) 6:06:16″
- Steven Kruijswijk (Netherlands / LottoNL) ST
- Georg Preidler (Austria / Giant)
- Darwin Atapuma (Colombia / BMC Racing) +6″
- Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +37″
- Kanstantsin Siutsou (Belarus / Dimension Data)
- Ilnur Zakarin (Russia / Katusha) +2:29″
- Rafal Majka (Poland / Tinkoff)
- Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Cannondale) +2:50″
- Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R) +3:00″
General Classification After Stage 14:
- Steven Kruijswijk (Netherlands / LottoNL) 60:12:43″
- Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +41″
- Esteban Chaves (Colombia / Orica) +1:32″
- Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +3:06″
- Andrey Amador (Costa Rica / Movistar) +3:15″
- Rafal Majka (Poland / Tinkoff) +3:29″
- Ilnur Zakarin (Russia / Katusha) +3:53″
- Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Cannondale) +5:01″
- Kanstantsin Siutsou (Belarus / Dimension Data) +5:38″
- Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark / Astana)
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