Volta Algarve: Contador wins Stage 4

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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.

KWIATKOWSKI podium Algarve Stage 3 (c) Tim DeWaele

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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