on 23 may 2011, during the giro d'italia, kiryienka's team mate xabier tondo was killed in a freak accident at home while preparing to train with teammates. he was reportedly crushed between his car and a garage door. five days later, kiryienka rode to victory in a solo effort on stage 20, a mountain top finish at sestriere, and he dedicated the stage victory to tondó, pointing skyward as he crossed the finish line. the team had met to consider withdrawing from the race after tondó's death, but instead the riders unanimously voted to ride on. kiryienka commented that the squad at the giro hoped to get a further stage win (as francisco ventoso's win had come before tondó's death) to honor him, while other members of the team grieved with tondó's family.