photo credits @ Quick-Step Cycling
Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step) claimed the opening stage of this year’s Volta ao Algarve today, after being delivered into perfect position by his teammate, Max Richeze, to snatch the victory ahead of André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) and Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis).
Race Highlights
A five-man breakaway group containing Christoph Pfingsten (Bora-Hansgrohe), Justin Oien (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Brian van Goethe (Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij), João Benta (RP-Boavista) and Adam de Vos (Rally Cycling), succeeded in riding clear early on in today’s stage.
From there, the quintet quickly built up an advantage of more seven minutes over the peloton.
However, after winning the first climb of the day, the Sitio da Picota, De Vos decide to return to the peloton – knowing that he had claimed the race’s first Mountain Jersey.
Meanwhile, despite a concerted effort to remain out front, the remaining four riders were eventually reclaimed by the peloton during the final 26 kilometers, with Lotto Soudal, Cofidis and Trek-Segafredo featuring prominently at the front of the field.
From there, a furious battle ensued amongst the teams, with each squad working in earnest to usher their respective sprinters into position for the inevitable sprint finale.
Stage 1 Results COL 1 GAVIRIA RENDON, Fernando (QUICK – STEP FLOORS) 4:28:31 GER 2 GREIPEL, André (LOTTO SOUDAL) FRA 3 BOUHANNI, Nacer (COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS) NED 4 GROENEWEGEN, Dylan (LOTTO NL – JUMBO) GER 5 DEGENKOLB, John (TREK – SEGAFREDO) BEL 6 PLANCKAERT, Baptiste (KATUSHA ALPECIN) ITA 7 TRENTIN, Matteo (QUICK – STEP FLOORS) ITA 8 PASQUALON, Andrea (WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT) POL 9 WISNIOWSKI, Lukasz (SKY) NOR 10 BOASSON HAGEN, Edvald (DIMENSION DATA)
You must be logged in to post a comment.
