Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma Quickstep) keeps his yellow jersey finishing 3rd behind Alberto Contador & Rui Coasta on the queen stage of Volta Algarve on Saturday
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Volta Algarve: Contador wins Stage 4
The Polish rider was ahead with all the big GC contenders on the climb, but Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) went on to win the stage that finished on Alto do Malhão. Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) was 2nd. This stage was expected to be the chance for a GC shift, but Kwiatkowski was able to defend his overall leadership with his podium placement.
There were several attacks in the last kilometres, but the peloton neutralized all of them as they headed toward the final climb. “It was a hard day,” Kwiatkowski said. “The pace was really high, but I had so much support from my teammates. We were controlling the whole race.”
“I am thankful to them because without them I couldn’t defend the jersey. Guys like Rui Costa and Alberto Contador, they really wanted to win and even take the jersey from me. So it was a real fight to the finish. It was not easy, as that climb was really steep and the tempo at the end was not easy to follow. I was trying to keep the wheel of Contador, but he always was looking back to see how I felt based on how I looked. He was always changing the rhythm, and at about 250 meters I was suffering”.
“I really wanted to even win the stage, but I maybe wanted it too much and paid for it near the top of the climb. Still, I defended the jersey and that was the main goal. To finish 3rd with guys like that, and stay the leader, I am happy. It was a good lesson for me today and there’s one more stage tomorrow. We will do our best for a good stage result, and maybe also win the overall for the second year in a row.”
RESULT
1 CONTADOR Alberto Tinkoff-Saxo 04:02:08
2 COSTA Rui Lampre – Merida 00:03
3 KWIATKOWSKI Michal Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 00:10
4 PRADES Eduard OFM – Quinta da Lixa 00:13
5 MACHADO Tiago Team NetApp – Endura 00:14
6 HORNER Chris Lampre – Merida
7 PINTO Edgar LA Aluminios – Antarte
8 BILBAO Pello Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
9 GENIEZ Alexandre FDJ.fr
10 FIRSANOV Sergey RusVelo
40 MCEVOY Jonathan Team NetApp – Endura 01:34
70 DE GENDT Thomas Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 04:18
71 BARTA Jan Team NetApp – Endura
72 VOSS Paul Team NetApp – Endura 04:20
73 ROWSELL Erick Team NetApp – Endura 04:22
80 MARTIN Tony Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 04:52
120 PETACCHI Alessandro Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 13.26
128 DOWSETT Alex Movistar Team
136 CAVENDISH Mark Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 13:46
145 VOECKLER Thomas Team Europcar 14:01
153 RENSHAW Mark Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 14:52
OVERALL
1 KWIATKOWSKI Michal Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 13:05:50
2 CONTADOR Alberto Tinkoff-Saxo 00:16
3 COSTA Rui Lampre – Merida 00:29
4 GENIEZ Alexandre FDJ.fr 01:10
5 KELDERMAN Wilco Belkin-Pro Cycling Team 01:29
6 FERNANDEZ Ruben Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 01:30
7 PRADES Eduard OFM – Quinta da Lixa 01:32
8 HORNER Chris Lampre – Merida
9 SPILAK Simon Team Katusha 01:38
10 PINTO Edgar LA Aluminios – Antarte 01:41
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