One day after his excellent stage win, Stef Clement enjoyed another career highlight in the Volta a Catalunya when he stepped onto the podium as the winner of the mountains jersey. The result crowned a very aggressive Belkin showing that also secured 12th overall for Wilco Kelderman.
Stef Clement battled through the wind and rain to finish safely in the peloton on the final stage of the Volta Ciclista A Catalunya and step onto the podium as Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM's winner of the Mountains Classification in a difficult 94th Edition of the Race.
The former time trial champion of the Netherlands doesn't get too many opportunities to take a win but this week it all came together for him and the Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM. Clement who not only secured the mountains classification but won stage 6 in the process was overjoyed not only for himself but for the team;
"You just have to keep on trying, that's what cycling is all about," said Clement "you do your job and keep battling and eventually it will all come right at one time. This week was that time. It's a huge thrill to be able to do this with the team and the morale has been so high it just carries you forward and inspires you. I normally like the heat and the sun but it seems that I can cope with the worst of weather too!"
Clement has hit a fine vein of form during what was, at times, a testing race with snow, rain and high winds but as Sports Director Frans Maassen explained the great spirit of the team lifted the riders above the tiring conditions;
"I like the sort of racing spirit that we showed this week. It was aggressive and exciting and we've come away with a fantastic result for Stef and for the team. Today was not an easy day, we only started with four riders due to illness and we rode really well to keep the jersey safe. Wilco [Kelderman] too rode with real fire today to try and secure a top 10 place overall but sadly he couldn't quite make it but it's been a very pleasing week."
Wilco Kelderman, who's fine placing in the early stages of the race was hampered by a heavy crash on stage 4, attacked on the final climb of the stage in Barcelona's Montjuic Park but had to settle for a fine 12th overall at the line.
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