Report: Volta ao Algarve

Reigning European time trial champion Jonathan Castroviejo beats the World Champion Tony Martin in Algarve Time Trial

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Report: Volta ao Algarve

Reigning European time trial champion Jonathan Castroviejo beats the World Champion Tony Martin in Algarve Time Trial

Jonathan Castroviejo claimed a sensational win on stage three of the Volta ao Algarve, a 18km individual time trial in and around Sagres. The current European Time Trial champion beat World champion Tony Martin (KAT) by four seconds and race leader Primoz Roglic (TLJ) by five seconds. ‘Castro’ now sits third overall, 36″ away from the Slovenian and 14″ in arrears of Michal Kwiatkowski (SKY), who climbed onto second.

Castroviejo, fourth quickest through the first intermediate point (5km), maintained a constant pace over the parcours that held off the final charge by Martin, the strongest through the second half of the course, and round off a magnificent race by the Blues, with Alex Dowsett in 7th and Nelson Oliveira in 9th. It’s the Spaniard’s first win of the season and the ninth of a pro career.

Jonathan Castroviejo: “It’s so special for me to come back to this race, after everything that happened for me last season, and be a protagonist again. As well yesterday as today I could be up there with the top guns, and claiming this victory is a marvellous feeling for me. I couldn’t be more proud of what I achieved on this TT.

“It’s been so rewarding, beating the rivals I managed to leave behind today. I was within the top four at all time trials I took part last season, claimed the European title, a medal in the Worlds… but winning here in the beginning of the season, against such big names, is even a step above for me. Also, my performance yesterday on a mountain finish was quite good, which gives me lots of motivation to keep chasing these one-week stageraces.

“The GC might not be decided yet, I think. Sunday’s finish will see some fireworks for sure. Malhao is a short climb, one you take only eight minutes to complete, but I think it will create more gaps than Fóia. It’s a very explosive one, and with the race finishing there, everyone will do their best and the bunch will split completely, even before the final ascent.”

Tony Martin: “Of course I am disappointed with the result,” said Tony Martin. “My performance was quite okay and in the race everything felt all right. It was certainly not my best time trial race, but also not the worst. Really it’s no problem; I can be beaten by Castroviejo. He is a good time trial rider. But I am only a little surprised about the time distances to the riders behind. This brings a little thought. But my season highlights are still to come!”

Primož Roglič: “First, I took it a bit easy, there were many twists and turns. I had to be careful, you have to stay on your bike to win,” he explained. “As always, I want to finish strongly. I took many risks, but watched out in the final.”

“After a bad day in the Valenciana stage race last week, this is a good result. I was not good enough to be able to help the team in Valenciana during the team time trial, but it’s nice to prove that I’m in good shape. Today, I was good and that gives me confidence for the rest of this race, but also with an eye on the rest of the season. I want to do everything possible to be good in the mountains and grow into a classification rider.”

… continued after advert

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The Volta ao Algarve will now tackle its longest stage tomorrow, 203km to Tavira with the sprinters chasing another success, before the race decider up the Alto do Malhao on Sunday.

Stage
1. Jonathan Castroviejo, Movistar Team 21:24
2. Tony Martin, Team Katusha – Alpecin :04
3. Primož Roglič, Team LottoNL-Jumbo :05
4. Michal Kwiatkowski, Team Sky
5. Lars Boom, Team LottoNL-Jumbo :11
6. Arnaud Démare, FDJ :12
7. Alex Dowsett, Movistar Team :16
8. Hagen Boasson , EdvaldDimension Data :20
9. Nelson Oliveira, Movistar Team
10. Tony Gallopin, Lotto Soudal 0:21

14. Ryan Mullen, Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team 0:35
37. Tao Geoghegan Hart, Team Sky
61. Scott Thwaites, Dimension Data 1:26
74. Daniel Martin, Quick-Step Floors
91. Mark Cavendish, Dimension Data

GC
1. Primož Roglič, Team LottoNL-Jumbo 59:36:29
2. Michal Kwiatkowski, Team Sky @ 0:22
3. Jonathan Castroviejo, Movistar Team @ 0:36
4. Tony Gallopin, Lotto Soudal @ 0:55
5. Luis Sanchez Astana Pro Team @ 0:59
6. Daniel Martin, Quick-Step Floors @ 1:31
7. Tony Martin, Team Katusha – Alpecin @ 1:40
8. Tiesj Benoot, Lotto Soudal @ 1:49
9. Amaro Antunes, W52-FC Porto-Porto Canal @ 1:54
10. Rinaldo Nocentini, Sporting Clube de Portugal/Tavira @ 1:56

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