Gesink developing into classification rider

Robert Gesink of Team Rabobank is more than satisfied with his "perfect" Vuelta a España. The 22 year-old finished seventh overall in only his first Grand Tour, and he saw it as an affirmation that he was developing from being strictly a climber to being a classification rider.

After a few difficulties at first, the Vuelta "went perfectly for me and I got the maximum out of it," Gesink told sportwereld.nl. "I didn't have a single bad day, and finished in the top ten in every mountain stage, even finishing fourth once. I had two perfect time trials and only had two slight breakdowns. That was enough for a top ten finish."

It was the first Grand Tour for the second-year professional, and he considered it affirmation that he was developing from being strictly a climber to being a classification rider.

The high-finish had its down side, however. Gesink said that "from time to time it is totally crazy" because of all the requests made of him. "Sometimes after a busy period you just want to rest, and you don't need the attention or questions which you have to think about." (SW)