Rob Ruijgh

The road cycling career of Rob Ruijgh has not been without adversity, and this makes him a perfect fit with the group of riders within the Dutch WorldTour formation. He is familiar with adversity and has no problem fighting back. In 2011 he was able to complete the Tour in 21st place, and that is not something many riders are able to say about their debut year in the most important cycling race in the world. As a team player, Ruijgh also stood out, because his share in Pim Ligthart’s Dutch title in Ootmarsum has to be recognised as significant. In 2012 the man from the Dutch province of Limburg, who is still young, had an unlucky season during which he did not seem to find his form until the Vuelta a Espana. He had to give up there due to illness, and 2012 became a year to soon forget. With his well-developed critical abilities and his resistance, this is not something he is going to allow to happen again in 2013.