Skip to main content

Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta 2019: Stage 2

Refresh

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 45th Volta ao Algarve. Today's second stage runs 187.4km from Almodôvar to the summit finish at Fóia.

 

Today's stage kicks off in around 15 minutes.

Given the summit finish we should see a big shakeup at the top of the overall standings today. A number of strong climbers – including Wout Poels, Sam Oomen, Enric Mas and David de la Cruz – managed to avoid the crash at the end of yesterday's stage and should be in a good position to take over the race lead here.

Yesterday we saw Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-Quick Step) take his first win of the season on his first race day. The Belgian was one of around 30 riders who avoided the mass pileup 7km from the end of the stage. Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) and Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) rounded out the podium.

Here's a map of today's stage.

The riders have started stage 2, rolling out from Almodôvar.

Two riders didn't take the start today, having been involved in yesterday's big crash. They are Luís Mendonça (Radio Popular-Boavista) and Aleksandr Grigorev (Sporting-Tavira).

179km remaining from 187km

The group has 1:50 on the peloton.

The advantage of the break has edged out to over two minutes now. No update on the result of the first intermediate sprint, which they have surely passed through, yet.

Silva, Nanclares and Barta were the top three on the first intermediate sprint of the day.

149km remaining from 187km

The situation is stable at the moment, with the break comfortable up the road and the peloton happy with its makeup.

122km remaining from 187km

The third category climb of Cavalos sees Reis take the points. Silva and Nanclares are second and third over the line.

The riders head downhill into the valley now, where the feed zone awaits. Almost 90km away, the second category climb of Pomba awaits, ahead of another intermediate sprint and then the final climb to the finish.

120km remaining from 187km

107km remaining from 187km

Deceuninck-Quick Step are also working at the front of the peloton.

It has been a slow one so far today, with a 35km/h average speed for the first two hours.

67km remaining from 187km

Some information on the upcoming climbs:

45km remaining from 187km

39km remaining from 187km

Antunes finished 1:35 down yesterday after getting held up in the crash. Zoidl is working for him, so it looks like a bid for the stage win is on the cards.

38km remaining from 187km

Antunes leads over the top of the climb ahead of Zoidl and with it the provisional lead in the mountains classification.

The CCC boys are 30 seconds up on the chase group, and have a two-minute advantage on the peloton.

34km remaining from 187km

Zoidl is still pulling Antunes along out front.

31km remaining from 187km

The chasers have closed in a little on the CCC duo, while the peloton has closed the gap to 1:10.

23km remaining from 187km

Zoidl is still working for Antunes. You have to wonder if/when the Portuguese rider is going to go it alone.

21km remaining from 187km

20km remaining from 187km

As the leaders start the descent to the foot of Foólia, it looks like there are around 40 riders left in the peloton.

As the leaders start the descent to the foot of Fóia, it looks like there are around 40 riders left in the peloton.

16km remaining from 187km

Enric Mas (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Wout Poels (Sky) will be among the favourites to win this stage, based on the work their teams have put in today.

10km remaining from 187km

8km remaining from 187km

8km remaining from 187km

Numerous riders are being shot out the back of the peloton already. No surprises yet, though.

Sky are on the front now, with Dylan Van Baarle and Tao Geoghegan-Hart riding for Wout Poels.

Raúl Alarcón (W52-FC Porto) is dropped after his earlier efforts.

UAE Team Emirates have Valerio Conti and Tadej Pogačar near the front. Fabio Aru must be further back in the group.

7km remaining from 187km

6km remaining from 187km

5km remaining from 187km

There are still around 20 riders in the lead group.

Brambilla, Mas and Antunes are the next riders in line after the Sky train.

4km remaining from 187km

3km remaining from 187km

11 riders left up front, including the three men from Sky.

1km remaining from 187km

Antunes goes!

Stunning attack from the CCC man.

He's riding into a headwind. Oomen takes it up at the head of the chase group.

Antunes has around 5 seconds with four chasing - Poels, Oomen, Pogacar, Mas.

Poels attacks now.

Antunes is brought back and Pogacar attacks to the line!

Tadej Pogačar takes the win! He timed his attack just right. Poels and Mas round out the podium.

It's the first pro win for Pogačar, who won the Tour de l'Avenir last year.

Ooomen and Antunes took fourth and fifth on the stage.

Pogačar, Poels, Mas, Oomen will be the new top four on GC.

Here's the top ten:

Some quotes from today's winner Tadej Pogačar:

And here's the new top ten on GC:

1 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 9:51:24
2 Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky 0:00:01
3 Enric Mas (Spa) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:03
4 Sam Oomen (Ned) Team Sunweb 0:00:05
5 David de la Cruz (Spa) Team Sky 0:00:21
6 Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) Team Sunweb 0:00:51
7 Joao Rodrigues (Por) W52/FC Porto 0:01:29
8 Amaro Antunes (Por) CCC Team 0:01:42
9 Neilson Powless (USA) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:01:46
10 Marc Hirschi (Swi) Team Sunweb

It will be interesting to see how Pogačar fares in tomorrow's time trial, his first as a pro. With Poels lying just one second back, it looks likely that the Sky man will take over the race lead, but it's another new challenge for the Slovene.

Still, a great victory for the neo-pro today, whatever happens during the remainder of the race. And he certainly showed up nominal team leader Fabio Aru, who hasn't looked the same rider since joining UAE Team Emirates.

And that's it for me today. Our full report and results are coming soon. I'll be back tomorrow for the 20km time trial in Lagoa.

Latest on Cyclingnews