Jonas Vingegaard succeeded Remco Evenepoel on Palmarés da bicycle after ‘rocking’ the competition in the counter -rerareological until the top of the malion, where João Almeida climbed the podium as a second classified.
The news about the weakness of the Visma-Lease Danish to the bike after arrival at Foia were manifestly exaggerated, with the two-time champion of the Tour (2022 and 2023) today to give a demonstration of authority to win the stage, ahead of Belgian colleague Wout Van Aert, and the individual general, is in front of UAE Emirates Portuguese, visibly disillusioned at the end.
“I did what I got, the opponent was stronger,” summarized Almeida, who believes he couldn’t have made a better counter -rerarequistry – it was sixth, 31 seconds of the winner, and ended 15 seconds from the Dane in the final classification.
Vingegaard was today at the level of him expected to maintain the tradition of winning the race with which the time starts: he pedaled an average of 41,384 km/h to meet the 19.6 kilometers from the semi-cronescated to the highest point of Loulé in 28.25 minutes, taking 11 seconds to the time of van aert. Third was the promising Italian Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), who spent 15 seconds more than the winner.
The big surprise turned out to be the Belgian Laurens de Plus (Ineos), who held third place, ending 24 seconds of Vingegaard, on a journey to forget to UAE Emirates: the yellow jersey Jan Christen fell to 10th da General and Luso António Morgado nor at the top 10 was, down seven places, to 11th
On a day with so many reasons of interest, namely the dropouts of Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) and Arnaud de Lie (Lotto), the sprinters who didn’t even want to wear out in the ‘chrono’, the performance of Primoz Roglic (Red Bull- Bora-Hansgrohe) ended up deceiving, with the 2017 champion to be only 12th in the stage and ending in the eighth place of the general, ahead of Tao Geoghegan Hart (Lidl-Trek).
The unprecedented counter -rerareological to the top of the malion was the only truly decisive stage of this edition of ‘Algarvia’, based on several organizational failures and even some absence of spectacle, which was reserved for the ultimate day.
Successive changes in the ‘virtual’ lead of the last stage ended when Wet Van Aert arrived: bronze medal in the Paris2024 Olympic Games’, the Visma-Lease Belgian Bike fulfilled the 19.6 kilometers between Salir and the High of the Hall in 28.36 minutes.
Not even consecrated experts such as Filippo Ganna (Ineos), Olympic runner-up, or Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) managed to beat the more explosive and mountain resistant time (after 17 essentially technical kilometers, there was 2.6 to rise with an average slope pendant of 9.2%) than its opponents.
But Van Aert’s preferential place is the second and his partner Vingegaard to him ‘condemned him’, with the Belgian to say goodbye to the Algarve without any stage won and without going up to the final podium, where, on the other hand, was the His compatriot Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bull-Hansgrohe), the winner of the points classification.
In a more national note, Argentine Nicolás Tivani gave a joy to Avilo Louletano-Loulé, winning the mountain jersey, with the final portrait of the 51st ‘Algarve’ to include the Frenchman Romain Greegoire (Groupama-FDJ), The fourth of the general who was the youth winner.
Vingegaard showed his true self but Roglic still has to work
Jonas Vingegaard still doubted herself after arrival at Foia, but today he returned to his level, with the Danish cyclist of Visma-Lease to confess “truly happy” to beat the return to the Algarve.
“I don’t know if I expected [a vitória]but of course I wanted to win. After the other day [na Fóia]maybe I was doubting a little more. I think I showed my true self today, to be sincere, ”he began to tell journalists on top of the malhtion, where he won the fifth stage counter -rerareological and ensured the conquest of the general.
Revealing herself “super happy” for the Triumph in the 51st ‘Algarve’ and his performance in ‘Crono’, the 28-year-old Danish admitted to having had different sensations from those of Fóia, where he tried to leave the opponents behind with an attack Two kilometers from above and ended up only sixth.
“I don’t know if I felt relief, but I’m very pleased. I know this is my level. I am very proud of my display. I think it was a good argument for me and I really enjoyed it on the road, ”he said.
After not being in altitude before returning to the competition, Vingegaard acknowledged that this option may have conditioned its performance in the second stage.
“Maybe you needed more days to get into the pace of what happens normally. Today, I felt super well. I am truly happy and anxious for the next races, ”he said.
Successor of an absent Remco Evenepoel on the Palmarés of the winners of the Algarve, the Visma-Lease leader the bike did not want to commit a possible return to the Portuguese race.
“I really enjoyed coming here, it was a good race. I don’t want to delete [a hipótese de voltar no próximo ano]depends on next year’s goals. It may be back, ”he said the cyclist who debuted this year in the ‘Algarve’.
Unlike his former teammate, Primoz Roglic already knew what it was to win the only Portuguese stages of the UCI Circuit Proseries and, although it was only eighth overall, was pleased with the return return that won in 2017.
“It was hard, but it was a good effort to start the season. I am pleased, ”summarized Red Bull-Bansgrohe’s Slovenian over today’s ‘chrono’, in which it was 12th to 50 seconds of Vingegaard.
Visibly relaxed, ‘Rogla’ said she enjoyed her a lot of her week on the back of the Algarve, recognizing that she had a job to do in the anteroom of her presence in the return to Italy.
“I am definitely where I wanted to be in terms of form. Obviously, I didn’t choose to be at my best here. I chose to start just the season, there is still a lot of work ahead but I’m on the right way, ”said the leader of Red Bull-Bansgrohe.
Roglic was really the only one of the three major candidates who did not ‘corresponds’, as João Almeida also accompanied Vingegaard on the final podium.
“I couldn’t have made a better counter -rerareological, I went to my limit, I think I did very well. It’s life, we don’t always win. I am very pleased, ”said the Portuguese.
According to the general 15 seconds of the Dane, the Luso da UAE Emirates assumed that he expected that Vingegaard was strong today, in a “basically the measure of it as well.”
“I knew it was going to be very difficult. But I was very optimistic, I did everything right and I’m very proud of what I did, ”he concluded.
Also Laurens de Plus, Ineos, who was third from the general, leaves the Algarve confident for what is coming, after being called at the last minute to join the British team in the 51st edition.
“I had a team’s WildCard for this race, it was a good opportunity. I climbed a ‘step’ this year, had a good stage in Tenerife and showed that this year I can take a new step in my career, ”he told Lusa.
Ana Marques Gonçalves, from the Lusa Agency
5th Stage – Declarations
Declarations after the fifth and last stage of the 51st edition of the Algarve Tour of Bicycle, a 19.6 kilometers between Salir and the top of the Malhão earned by Dane Jonas Vingegaard, who also won the general:
Jonas Vingegaard, Din, Visma-Lease a Bike (Step and Individual General Winner): “I don’t know if I expected [a vitória]but of course I wanted to win. After the other day [na Fóia]maybe I was doubting a little more. I think I showed my true self today to be sincere.
I’m super happy for the way [o contrarrelógio] And with the legs I had. Today I had different sensations in relation to FOIA. Very happy with victory and my performance.
I don’t know if I felt relief, but I’m very pleased. I know this is my level. I am very proud of my display. I think it was a good argument for me and I really enjoyed it on the road.
Perhaps [a alteração na preparação] has influenced the first day. Perhaps you needed more days to get into the pace of what happens normally. Today, I felt super well. I am truly happy and anxious for the next races.
I was not focused on beating anyone, but in my race and optimizing everything for today. Optimize my performance, do the best I could.
(About opting not to change bikes) I saw that the climb was too short and, for me, at least, would imply moving many more ‘watts’ on the normal bike, because it would waste more time with the bicycle change [de contrarrelógio para a de estrada].
(A big start for a big time?) Get two wins today [na etapa e na geral] It’s fantastic. I hope it is a great time, I will do everything within my reach. I also hope the next tests go well.
I really enjoyed coming here, it was a good race. I don’t want to delete [a hipótese de regressar no próximo ano]depends on next year’s goals. It may be that it comes back ”
João Almeida, by, UAE Emirates (second of the individual general): “I think I made an excellent argument, I felt quite well. I did a very good management, I think I made a very good climb too. I did what I got, the opponent was stronger.
I wouldn’t say [que estava] Confident but optimistic. I’m in a good way. I couldn’t have made a better counter -rerareological, I went to my limit, I think I did very well. It’s life, we don’t always win. I am very pleased.
Honestly, it was [à espera de um Vingegaard tão forte]. It was a counter -rerareological basically to his extent too and he knew it was going to be very difficult. But I was very optimistic, I did everything right and I’m very proud of what I did.
For me, it was very simple [decidir] not change [de bicicleta] And I think it went very well.
I always give my best, things have been doing quite well. This year I am starting on the right foot and is focusing on the rest of the season, controlling what I can control and do my best.
A word of thanks [aos portugueses]clearly makes all the difference. Climbing the malhão listening to my name always gives an extra force. ”
Laurens de Plus, Bel, Ineos (third of the individual general): “I had a team’s WildCard for this race, it was a good opportunity. I climbed a ‘step’ this year, had a good stage in Tenerife and showed that this year I can take a new step in my career.
Definitely, this result gives me motivation. I married last year, I have a feeling that balance is perfect now and that the performance on the bicycle follows. ”
Jordi Meeus, Bel, Red Bull-Bi-Hansgrohe (winner of the points classification): “It’s great to take the green nightgown home, I’m very happy with this week.
Yes, this nightgown gives me motivation for the time. The legs are good and I’m looking forward to next week, with ‘Opening Weekend’ [das clássicas]”.
Nicolás Tivani, ARG, AviloDoLouletano-Loué (winner of the mountain classification): “I’m happy, because we reached the goal, which was to take the blue nightgown home. I am very happy because, of course, the team is from the Algarve, and for me it is very satisfactory to be able to offer them this joy. ”
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