The Dutchman finishes in the top 5 for the fourth time since the beginning of the season.
The 49th edition of the Volta ao Algarve got underway with a 200km stage between Portimão and Lagos, the town where Fabio Jakobsen won three of his four stages at the event. Our team once again assumed the responsibility in the peloton, Tim Declercq spending around four hours at the front of the field, keeping the seven-man breakaway on a tight leash before chewing into their advantage in the last 80 kilometers of the day.
The Soudal Quick-Step lead-out train formed in the closing kilometers, increasing the speed and moving the European Champion closer to the front, but a combination of tight roads and strong headwind changed the script and made for a chaotic bunch sprint, which saw the Dutchman come home in fourth position, as Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X) took the victory.
The race will now hit the climbs, with the 7.7km Alto da Foia – coming at the end of the second stage – promising to bring some major changes to the general classification.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
