In his first test against the clock of the season, the Luxembourger's strong effort was rewarded with a significant jump in the general classification.
Last rider to roll down the ramp for the 20.3km-long individual time trial held on an undulating terrain around the town of Lagoa, Bob Jungels was one of the fastest riders of the day, posting impressive results both at the intermediate checkpoint and finish, after a solid effort that augurs well for the rest of the season, when the 25-year-old will aim to be one of the main protagonists of the prestigious World Tour stage races.
Clocked in 24:58 after averaging 48.78km/h, the Quick-Step Floors rider finished eighth, 49 seconds behind stage winner and race leader Geraint Thomas (Team Sky), who beat Victor Campanaerts (Lotto-Soudal). Friday's display in the first individual time trial of his season helped Bob gain four places in the general classification with two days left. Jungels, a double winner of the white jersey at the Giro d'Italia, isn't the only team rider in the top 10 overall, with teammate Maximilian Schachmann lying in eighth place.
"It was a nice time trial to start with and I felt good. Maybe a started a bit too slow, but fortunately it didn't took too long to find my rhythm. In the end it was another top 10, after the one of yesterday, and although there's still some fine-tuning to do, I am happy with my condition. Tomorrow we hope to do something in the sprint, and on Sunday we'll be ready for the climb of Malhao, where it should all come down to seconds", explained Bob Jungels, fourth in the general classification at the Portuguese race.
Volta ao Algarve continues on Saturday with the penultimate stage, between Almodovar and Taviria, which puts on the table a flat course suited to the sprinters.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele/ Getty Images
