Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) has taken his second win of the season in the first stage of the Volta ao Algarve ahead of Arnaud Démare (FDJ) and Hugo Hofstetter (Cofidis).
“The shape feels really good”, Groenewegen said afterwards. “The leadout was already strong in Dubai and today they did a great job again. The timing was right and I finished it off in a long sprint.”
With only two sprint stages on the menu in this five-day stage race, the two-man breakaway was not destined to stay away. The peloton caught Jose Goncalves (Katusha-Alpecin) and Tom Devriendt (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) with about five kilometers to go.
LottoNL-Jumbo, FDJ, BMC and Lotto Soudal stormed passed the duo with four kilometres to go, setting up the sprinters for the run-in to the finish line in Lagos.
It was Groenewegen to cross the finish line ahead of Démare. Hugo Hofstetter of Cofidis finished third.
https://youtu.be/zWUCMaF4Pt4?t=2950
Volta ao Algarve 2018 – stage 1 results (Albufeira – Lagos):
| 1 | Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) | 4:47:58 |
| 2 | Arnaud Demare (FDJ) | ,, |
| 3 | Hugo Hofstetter (Cofidis) | ,, |
| 4 | Timothy Dupont (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) | ,, |
| 5 | Jurgen Roelandts (BMC) | ,, |
| 6 | John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) | ,, |
| 7 | Jens Keukeleire (Lotto Soudal) | ,, |
| 8 | Matteo Pelucchi (Bora-hansgrohe) | ,, |
| 9 | Yves Lampaert (Quick-Step Floors) | ,, |
| 10 | Luís Mendonça (Aviludo-Louletano-Uli) | ,, |
