Steven Kruijswijk

By CyclingWeekly Staff

last updated 19 May 2021

Steven Kruijswijk on stage fifteen of the 2016 Giro d'Italia

Nationality: Dutch

Date of birth: June 7 1987

Weight: 66kg

Height: 178cm

Team: Jumbo-Visma

Twitter: @s_kruijswijk

Steven Kruijswijk is a Dutch road cyclist who began riding for the Rabobank Development Team in 2007. He showed early potential, winning the Under 23 title in the Dutch National Road Race in 2009.

The young rider was considered a Giro d'Italia GC contender - and one who could upset the big favourites on the start list of the 2017 edition. However, he eventually abandoned before the penultimate stage, citing stomach problems as the cause of his difficulties.

Kruijswijk has been battling with the Giro d’Italia since sneaking into the top 20 on General Classification, in eighteenth place in 2010.

The following year, in 2011, he upped his game to eighth overall – but didn’t make another appearance at the Italian stage race until 2013 where he came in as rider 26 on GC.

In 2014, he won the Arctic Race of Norway, but did not complete the Grand Tour.

In 2015, Kruijswijk had another pop at the Giro – this time a designated team leader for Team LottoNL-Jumbo.

The Dutch rider performed particularly well in the second half of the race. At the finish of stage 16, he was second to Mikel Landa. His accumulated results there saw him come seventh overall, just under eleven minutes behind eventual winner Alberto Contrador.

Aiming to better his result in the 2016 edition, Kruijswijk took hold of the pink jersey after stage 14, having finished second on the queen stage from Palmanova to Cividale del Friuli.

The next day, he was second again over a mountainous time trial, increasing his lead by two minutes. A third second place on stage 16 gave Kruijskwijk a lead of more than three minutes – giving him plenty of reason to drive for the overall.

However – on stage 19 he hit the deck when chasing an attack from Esteban Chaves and Vincenzo Nibali. He finished the stage, but two broken ribs meant the ride to the line was a struggle and he finished five minutes behind Nibali and four in arrears of Chaves.

Determined to continue, Kruijskijk embarked upon stage 20, where he dropped back to fourth overall – maintaining the position on General Classification.

2017 was a year of poor form for the Dutchman. He competed at both the Giro and Vuelta. He abandoned the Giro due to illness and finished 9th at the Vuelta.

2018 saw greater form return and he finished 5th overall. He was visible throughout the race and won the combativity award on stage 12. He backed up this strong ride with a 4th overall at the Vuelta.

For the first time in his career, 2019 saw him reach the podium of a grand tour. He finished 3rd overall at the TdF, 1-31 behind Egan Bernal.

Steven Kruijswijk has abandoned the Tour de France 2021

More bad news for Jumbo-Visma as Steven Kruijswijk abandons Tour de France 2021

The Dutch squad have now lost half of their riders

Steven Kruijswijk forced to miss Tour de France

Jumbo-Visma’s attempts to overthrow Team Ineos at the Tour de France have taken a blow as Steven Kruijswijk will be forced to miss the race due to injury.

By Alex Ballinger Published 20 August 20
Kruijswijk climbs to win Tour de Suisse stage six

Tour de Suisse 2011, stage six: Damiano Cunego places third on stage to retain overall lead; Juan Mauricio Soler airlifted to hospital after crash

By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan Published 16 June 11

Strava stats show the effort behind Steven Kruijswijk's Tour de France stage 12 breakaway heartbreak

Steven Kruijswijk put in a heroic ride on stage 12 of the Tour de France, going solo with more than 70km to go, but being caught in the final kilometres.

By Henry Robertshaw Published 20 July 18
Steven Kruijswijk pulls out of Giro d’Italia after testing positive for coronavirus

Steven Kruijswijk has abandoned the Giro d’Italia after testing positive for coronavirus on the first rest day.

By Alex Ballinger Published 13 October 20
‘Horrendously awful’: Steven Kruijswijk’s pink and celeste Bianchi

Grand Tour leaders are normally given a bike in the colour of their jersey, but that's not always a good idea as shown by Steven Kruijswijk's new Bianchi.

By Henry Robertshaw Published 24 May 16

Giro d’Italia leader Steven Kruijswijk’s mountain time trial bike revealed

LottoNL-Jumbo post photos of Steven Kruijswijk's pink-tinged Bianchi bike ahead of Sunday's Giro d'Italia mountain test

By Nigel Wynn Published 22 May 16
Giro d’Italia leader Steven Kruijswijk crashes into snow drift on descent (video)

Steven Kruijswijk has a heart-in-mouth moment on the descent of the Colle dell'Agnello, crashing hard into a snow drift at the side of the road

By Stuart Clarke Published 27 May 16
Alejandro Valverde: ‘Steven Kruijswijk will win the Giro d’Italia’

Stage 16 winner Alejandro Valverde reckons that no-one will be able to stop Steven Kruijswijk winning the 2016 Giro d'Italia on Sunday

By Gregor Brown Published 24 May 16

Jumbo-Visma second team to pull out of Giro d'Italia due to coronavirus

Jumbo-Visma is the second team with pull out of the Giro d'Italia due to coronavirus.

By Alex Ballinger Published 13 October 20
Steven Kruijswijk won’t be underestimating his Giro d’Italia rivals

With Alejandro Valverde sitting 3-23 behind in third place, Steven Kruijswijk isn't taking his Giro d'Italia lead for granted

By Stuart Clarke Published 25 May 16
Vincenzo Nibali wins Giro d’Italia stage 19 as Steven Kruijswijk loses pink jersey

The Dutchman lost his lead to Esteban Chaves after he crashed on the descent from the Colle Dell'Agnello, as Nibali put in an attacking display to take the stage

By Richard Windsor Published 27 May 16

Kruijswijk moves into Giro d’Italia pink as Chaves wins stage 14 and rivals lose time

Esteban Chaves wins stage 14 of the Giro d'Italia and Steven Kruijswijk moves into pink as Vincenzo Nibalia and Alejandro Valverde lose time

By Stuart Clarke Published 21 May 16
Twitter reacts to Steven Kruijswijk’s bollard crash at the Vuelta a España

Steven Kruijswijk broke his collarbone when he crashed into a bollard at the side of the road in the closing kilometres of stage five of the Vuelta a España

By Stuart Clarke Published 25 August 16
Dutch national championships could be held abroad to attract stars like Tom Dumoulin

The Dutch national championships could be taken abroad in the hopes of attracting superstars like Tom Dumoulin and Steven Kruijswijk.

By Alex Ballinger Published 30 May 19

Daring to dream: How Jumbo Visma built their Tour challenge

By James Shrubsall Published 19 July 19
Why Steven Kruijswijk could be the rider to upset the big Giro d’Italia favourites

The Dutchman reflects on the disastrous crash that cost him Giro victory last year, and says he's determined to make amends

By Gregor Brown Published 4 May 17
Kruijswijk repels constant attacks to extend overall lead in Giro d’Italia

Alejandro Valverde wins stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia as Steven Kruijswijk extends his overall lead to three minutes on a hectic day

By Stuart Clarke Published 24 May 16

Steven Kruijswijk: ‘I lost the Giro d’Italia here’

The Dutchman relinquished his lead on the maglia rosa after a crash on the descent on the Colle dell'Agnello saw him struggle to get back to his rivals

By Gregor Brown Published 27 May 16
Vuelta a España organisers apologise for bollard that caused Kruijswijk injury

Steven Kruijswijk suffered a broken collarbone when he crashed into a pole in the road on stage five of the Vuelta a España

By Gregor Brown Published 24 August 16
Simon Yates ‘very wary’ of Steven Kruijswijk as rival takes podium spot after Vuelta a España 2018 time trial

Vuelta a España leader Simon Yates says he is “very wary” of rival Steven Kruijswijk heading into the final mountain stages of the race.

By Alex Ballinger Published 12 September 18

GC contenders hit the deck at Giro d'Italia after Fernando Gaviria misjudges corner

Steven Kruijswijk and Ilnur Zakarin were two of a number of riders to crash on stage four of the Giro d'Italia after race leader Gaviria misjudged a corner.

By Henry Robertshaw Published 9 May 17
Steven Kruijswijk blasts rivals in Giro d’Italia mountain time trial as Nibali fades

Giro d'Italia leader Steven Kruijswijk extended advantage at the top of the general classification as Vincenzo Nibali had trouble

By Nigel Wynn Published 22 May 16

Steven Kruijswijk

More bad news for Jumbo-Visma as Steven Kruijswijk abandons Tour de France 2021

Steven Kruijswijk forced to miss Tour de France

Kruijswijk climbs to win Tour de Suisse stage six

Strava stats show the effort behind Steven Kruijswijk's Tour de France stage 12 breakaway heartbreak

Steven Kruijswijk pulls out of Giro d’Italia after testing positive for coronavirus

‘Horrendously awful’: Steven Kruijswijk’s pink and celeste Bianchi

Giro d’Italia leader Steven Kruijswijk’s mountain time trial bike revealed

Giro d’Italia leader Steven Kruijswijk crashes into snow drift on descent (video)

Alejandro Valverde: ‘Steven Kruijswijk will win the Giro d’Italia’

Jumbo-Visma second team to pull out of Giro d'Italia due to coronavirus

Steven Kruijswijk won’t be underestimating his Giro d’Italia rivals

Vincenzo Nibali wins Giro d’Italia stage 19 as Steven Kruijswijk loses pink jersey

Kruijswijk moves into Giro d’Italia pink as Chaves wins stage 14 and rivals lose time

Twitter reacts to Steven Kruijswijk’s bollard crash at the Vuelta a España

Dutch national championships could be held abroad to attract stars like Tom Dumoulin

Daring to dream: How Jumbo Visma built their Tour challenge

Why Steven Kruijswijk could be the rider to upset the big Giro d’Italia favourites

Kruijswijk repels constant attacks to extend overall lead in Giro d’Italia

Steven Kruijswijk: ‘I lost the Giro d’Italia here’

Vuelta a España organisers apologise for bollard that caused Kruijswijk injury

Simon Yates ‘very wary’ of Steven Kruijswijk as rival takes podium spot after Vuelta a España 2018 time trial

GC contenders hit the deck at Giro d'Italia after Fernando Gaviria misjudges corner

Steven Kruijswijk blasts rivals in Giro d’Italia mountain time trial as Nibali fades