Yves Lampaert, Enric Mas and Zdenek Stybar all put in a strong and consistent ride on stage 3 of the Portuguese race.
Lagos played host to the 20.3km-long individual time trial which brought some changes to the general classification at the Volta ao Algarve ahead of the final two days, which include a flat stage to Tavira and a summit finish atop the iconic Alto do Malhão.
Former national ITT Champion Yves Lampaert signed off the best result of the day for Deceuninck – Quick-Step, setting the best provisional time – 24:38 – before eventually finishing third, just a handful of seconds behind winner Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ). Penultimate team rider to leave the start house, Zdenek Stybar produced one of the best time trials of his career, taking tenth at the end of the day and making of leap of four places in the overall standings, up to seventh.
Fresh off his third place on Alto da Foia, a result which took him onto the podium of the race, Enric Mas confirmed the progress he has made in the discipline, finishing outside the top 10 on the stage for a mere two seconds. Just three days into his season, the 24-year-old Spaniard is now second in the general classification, half a minute behind yellow jersey Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), and remains in contention for the overall victory.
The sixth different Deceuninck – Quick-Step rider to have won a race in 2019, Fabio Jakobsen retained the red jersey, which he will have a chance to wrap up on the penultimate day of the Volta ao Algarve.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele/ Getty Images