Mathieu Van Der Pol (Alpecin Phoenix) rode through a long stage of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday with an unassailable lead.

The Dutchman pointed to Tuesday's hour-long climb to Mount Etna as the likely end of his Maglia journey. Van der Pol, however, promised to keep fighting regardless of stage wins and finish the race no matter what happens on Tuesday.

"Today [Sunday] was certainly a good day. I enjoyed it and I'm happy to take the jersey to Italy," Van der Pol said when asked about his trouble-free, albeit long, 201-km stage, "There were a lot of spectators and it was very special."

"Normally it is impossible to keep the jersey in Etna. But I don't know how far I can go."

In any case, Van der Pol may have been leading, but he switched to a helper role for the day, working as a leadout for teammate Jacobo Maleczko. The Dutchman and the Italian lost contact in the turbulence of the finale, and Maletzko sprinted to fifth place.

Van der Pol, who later finished 17th, said he could not have been more helpful after the two had separated.

"I think we had a good lead as a team, but Maletzko lost my wheel in a late roundabout," van der Pol recalled.

"I looked behind me but I couldn't see him anymore. It was a shame he boxed in, but I did a pretty good job."

Whatever the case, Van der Pol certainly more than accomplished his task, with a stage 1 victory, a close loss in the stage 2 time trial, and a three-day lead. From now on, whatever happens at this year's Giro d'Italia for the Dutchman, it will be a huge bonus.