"I'll keep fighting" - Wilco Kelderman solidifies leading position within BORA - hansgrohe at Sierra de la Pandera

Wilco Kelderman jumped back into the fight for the overall classification on stage 12 as he joined the breakaway and put on a strong climb at Peñas Blancas. With Sergio Higuita struggling with form and Jai Hindley distant from the climbing legs he had in May, Kelderman has became BORA - hansgrohe's best placed rider, a position solidified in stage 14.

“It was our intention to participate in the early breakaway. Sergio [Higuita] initially succeeded in that, but his group was taken back. Then we switched to another plan," Kelderman said at the end of the day. Having started the day in sixth position, he fell down to eight. However this wasn't because of a bad day, but instead due to his proximity with Miguel Ángel López and João Almeida.

“The plan was to get a good result with me on that final climb. My teammates – as always – did a great job getting me in a good position at the foot of the final climb," he added. The Dutchman resisted in the GC group until the attacks begun in the final kilometers. “I tried to follow at my own pace. I know I don't have the best legs right now, but I'll keep fighting. There are still a lot of stages to come," he detailed.

Kelderman has over two minutes over Ben O'Connor and Thymen Arensman who are currently fighting for tenth position, but is BORA's best GC card. He'll surely attempt to put on another strong performance at Sierra Nevada today to try and keep the position he's worked hard for.