Volta ao Algarve 2018, Groenewegen wins stage 1
Dylan Groenewegen (Lotto Nl-Jumbo) takes stage 1 of the Volta ao Algarve 2018. The former Dutch Champion takes the sprint over Arnaud Demare (FDJ), Hugo Hofstetter (Cofidis), Thimothy Dupond (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Jurgen Roelandts (BMC Racing) and takes the second victory this year. Groenewegen wins after a long sprint at the end of the 192-kilometers-long stage from Albufeira to Lagos, pushing back the French’s come-back. In this way he conquers the first success of the year on European soil. Lotto Nl-Jumbo rider will also wear the first leader’s yersey of the Lusitanian challenge.
Ready, steady, go, breakaway! In facts the events did not happen very differently. The group doesn’t even have time to start that five men escape from the bunch. These athletes are José Zabala (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Nuno Almeida (LA Alumínios), David Livramento (Sporting-Tavira), Luís Afonso (Vito-Feirense-BlackJack) and João Rodrigues (W52-FC Porto), who open a gap of 2’50” after 16 kilometers of racing. Joao Rodrigues wins first and second KOMs of the day whereas José Zabala does the same with the first intermediate sprint on the road.
With over 100 kilometers remaining the group starts jumping across the gap and 25 kilometers later the advantage drops to 1’47” mostly due to the high tempo set by Lotto Nl-Jumbo, Trek-Segafredo, BMC Racing and FDJ. The group gradually bridges the gap and with 28 kilometers to go the head of the bunch has the break in eye contact.
José Zabala (Caja Rural) and Luis Afonso (Vito-Feirense) don’t want to raise the white flag so they try a counter-attack. The attempt of the two leaders turns out with 15 kilometers to go but the group has never felt worried about the chances of Zabala and Alfonso to win the stage. Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin) burn his matches but the peloton soon jumps across the gap and, with 10 kilometers remaining, his teammate José Goncalves and Tom Devriendt (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) try to eke out an advantage.
The attempt survives until the antepenultimate kilometer of race, in which the break loses out and the bunch becomes compact. FDJ and Lotto-Soudal trains leads the peloton over the last two kilometers but in the end Dylan Groenewegen starts his sprint in advance and none of his competitors succeed in getting over him. Now the Dutch leads also the overall but without any advantage on his rivals because of the absence of time bonuses on the finish line.
Volta ao Algarve 2018 Stage 1 Classification
1 Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 4:47:58
2 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ
3 Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
4 Timothy Dupont (Bel) Wanty-Groupe Gobert
5 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) BMC Racing Team
6 John Degenkolb (Ger) Trek-Segafredo
7 Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Lotto Soudal
8 Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe
9 Yves Lampaert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors
10 Luis Mendonça (Por) LA Aluminios
Volta ao Algarve 2018 Overall Classification
1 Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 4:47:58
2 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ
3 Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
4 Timothy Dupont (Bel) Wanty-Groupe Gobert
5 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) BMC Racing Team
6 John Degenkolb (Ger) Trek-Segafredo
7 Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Lotto Soudal
8 Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe
9 Yves Lampaert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors
10 Luis Mendonça (Por) LA Aluminios