Pure power and race knowledge - How Dani Martinez beat Remco Evenepoel at the Volta ao Algarve

Dani Martinez beat Remco Evenepoel to win stage 2 of the 2024 Volta ao Algarve
Dani Martinez beat Remco Evenepoel to win stage 2 of the 2024 Volta ao Algarve (Image credit: Getty Images)

Following Remco Evenepoel's show of strength and solo victory at the Figuera Champions Classic on Saturday, trying to beat the Belgian in this week’s Volta ao Algarve must have felt like a daunting prospect to any of his rivals. But at the Alto da Foia summit finish on Thursday, Dan Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) was up to the task. 

When Evenepoel attacked with just over 300 metres to go on the windswept Alto de Foia climb, the Colombian responded with equal power and then surged ahead in the grinding uphill sprint to the line.

Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.