Alberto Contador went on the attack in the mountains of the Algarve to win the final stage for his Tinkoff team
![]() |
News: Contador wins in Algarve
TEAM PRESS RELEASE
Contador put on a climbing exhibition in the second ascent to Alto do Malhao with a late attack. Thanks to the committed effort of the squad to keep the race under control and position Contador for the climb, Tinkoff’s leader took the stage win while securing the third place overall.
Despite a slow start to the Volta ao Algarve, Contador fired today his first warning shot of the season, on the fifth and final stage that took the peloton from Almodôvar to the famous climb of Alto do Malhão. After 169km and four climbs, it was on the second ascent of the 45km loop that Contador took matter into his own hands and staged his attack.
Volta Algarve 2016
A group of nine escapees was formed in the early kilometers of the race and Tinkoff together with Movistar set a ferocious pace, working hard to haul back the breakaway. Paulinho, Trofimov and Kiserlovski then protected Contador until the final three kilometers in a compact group, when Contador staged a solo attack and powered ahead. Fabio Aru responded but Contador went on and crossed the finish line victorious, with 20-second lead over the Italian.
“There was a breakaway of nine riders early on,” stated Sport Director Steven De Jongh “nothing really important for the GC. As a result, we decided to work together with Movistar and we each put one rider on the front. First it was Jesús Hernández and then Michael Valgren, who did a lot of work, while the rest of the squad did their part.
In the finale Sergio Paulinho, Yuri Trofimov and Roberts Kiserlovski took the reins to support Alberto and put him in a good position for the climb. Alberto showed his form and did one very good attack, which was enough to net him the stage win. He rode away and there was nobody that could follow him.â€
“The mountain finish on the second stage was a little bit disappointing of course,” continued de Jongh, “but it’s also seven months since Alberto did his last race, which was the Tour de France. You can’t expect him to be in excellent form from the start and today he showed he was really a lot better. I think this is surely promising for the upcoming races and I believe it is all good.”
Coming into good form says Contador
“I knew I was coming to Portugal in good form,” commented Contador after today’s stage win. “I hadn’t raced since a number of months and on the second stage, I probably lacked a bit of energy in the final part, that’s why I lost more time than I would have lost under normal conditions. For that reason, for me, today was an important day. I had the legs and I was feeling I could win”.
“That’s why the squad worked together with Movistar and we clinched the win. I’m very happy with this victory and I’d like to dedicate it to Oleg Tinkov and Tinkoff Bank for their backing and the trust they have shown through their sponsorship during the last four years. It’s, obviously, easier to win when you have that kind of support. We will keep fighting, with our sights always set on the big goal of the year, the Tour de France.â€
Volta Algarve 2016
“I’d also like to thank the whole team for their hard work at the Volta ao Algarve, some days with no payout, but today we topped it off and grabbed the victory. I’m happy I stepped on the podium and as I said, the last time I raced was at the Tour de France last year, so it’s always encouraging to debut with a victory. It boosts your confidence but at the same time we shouldn’t rest on our laurels. We have to stay concentrated and deliver,” continued Contador.
“My next goal is Paris-Nice, a race in which I last competed in 2010. I’ll be back this year and I hope I’ll be able to obtain a good result”, concluded Contador.
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Q&A Feature: Finlay Tarling
- Feature: Prologue Junior Race Team
- Feature Q&A: Max Cushway (2nd U23 Chrono des Nations TT)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Track Result: Premier/First Divisions of Manchester Track League
- News: Scottish Awards Evening
- CX Result: 2023 Scottish Cyclo-Cross Championship
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #8
- CX Result: NWCCA League Rd 7
- CX Result: London and South East CX League 9
- CX Result: Shimano Lazer WMCCL R11
- News: TLI Cycling AGM
- CX Result: CCXL Round 10
- CX Result: Western CX League Rd 7
- CX Result: Lincolnshire CX League 10
- CX Result: CXNE Round 8 (Ponteland)
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League Rd 9
- CX Result: South West Cyclocross League 7
- CX Result: Yorkshire Cyclo-Cross League 6
- The Pedal Club with Fred Wright
- CX Result: Eastern Region Cyclocross League
- Track Result: Premier/First Division Manchester Track League
- Products: Santini Adapt Multi Jacket
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #7
- CX Result: Scottish Cyclo-Cross League 5
- Q&A: Thomas Portsmouth (Bingoal WB)
- CX Result: NWCCA League Round 6
- CX Result: Shimano Lazer WMCCL Round 10
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League 7
- CX Result: Central CycloCross League 9
- CX Result: Lincolnshire Cyclo Cross League 9
- CX Result: South West CX League 6
- CX Result: Yorkshire Cyclo-Cross League Rd 5
- Track Result: Premier/First Divisions Manchester Track League
- CX Result: Notts & Derby CX League Rd 5
- Q&A: Quiz time with Gemma Mitchell
- Team News: Finn Mason joins U23 Saint Piran Team
- Team News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT
- Team News: Saint Piran launches Women’s Elite MTB Team
- Team News: New for Saint Piran – Under 23 Team
- Team News: Harry Birchill stays with Saint Piran
- Q&A: World Grand Fondo Champion Mary Wilkinson!
- CX Result: CXNE League Round 6
- CX Result: Central Cyclocross League Rd 8
Other News on VeloUK
- News: Scottish Awards Evening
- News: TLI Cycling AGM
- The Pedal Club with Fred Wright
- Team News: Finn Mason joins U23 Saint Piran Team
- Team News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT
- Team News: Saint Piran launches Women’s Elite MTB Team
- Team News: New for Saint Piran – Under 23 Team
- Team News: Harry Birchill stays with Saint Piran
- National Trophy CX – Round 4 Startlist
- Team News: Class of GB 2023/2024
- Feature: Q&A with Cormac Nisbet
- Team News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT
- Team News: Tofauti Everyone Active & dsm-firmenich
- BIKES: The Ribble Cycles Edit
- Q&A Feature: Finlay Tarling
- BMCR News: 2023 Stallard Series
- Obituary: Barrie Mitchell
- Feature: Prologue Junior Race Team
- Team News: RFDA cycling team finishes
- Team News: Harry Tanfield signs for Saint Piran
- News: GB for CX Europeans
- Manchester Regional Track League News:
- News: cyclo-cross commission at Derby
- Startlist: National Trophy Cyclocross Round 3 (Derby)
- Team News: Two More Years at Ineos for Geraint Thomas
- News: The Pedal Club Lunch October
- Startlist: RTTC National Hill Climb Championship
- Perfs Pedal: A Difficult Decision
- Startlist: Day 2 Round 2 National Trophy Cyclocross
- Startlist: Day 1 Round 2 National Trophy Cyclocross
- Coming Soon: Hill Climb Championships
- 2023 UCI World Masters Track Cycling Championships Day 4
- 93rd VeloViewer Monsal Hill Climb Event Preview
- Dedication to the late Steve Knight
- Saint Piran’s Remarkable Journey
- GB Riders for European Road Championships
- News: Ribble Launches Stone into Gravel
- Report: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT 2023
- News: East Cleveland Classic Rescheduled
- ENTRIES NEEDED: Severn Valley GP