Dylan Groenewegen (Team LottoNL-Jumbo) won in Lagos the first stage of the Volta ao Algarve

The first stage had the “finale” that was expected, ending with a fight among the fastest men in the peloton. Dylan Groenewegen confirmed the excellent start of the season, which had already earned him a stage and the lead in the Tour of Dubai, and was clearly established as the winner after 4h47m58s.

Arnaud Démare (FDJ), who also started the season auspiciously, climbed to the podium in his first competition of the year. The third was Frenchman Hugo Hofstetter (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits).

“Winning in Lagos was one of the goals of the team in Algarve. My team-mates provided me with an excellent lead out and I was able to beat my rivals. I already knew the finish, although the approach of the final kilometers was different and more demanding. It is very satisfactory to start in the Algarve with the yellow jersey but I admit that I have no pretensions to defend it. Tomorrow’s stage is hard and not adapted to my characteristics. I will try to win again on Saturday in Tavira” said Groenewegen.

The stage had five heroes against the odds.  Josu Zabala (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Nuno Almeida (LA Alumínios), David Livramento (Sporting-Tavira) Luís Afonso (Vito-Feirense-BlackJack), João Rodrigues (W52-FC Porto) took off at km 2, just after the start in Albufeira. Rodrigues, born in Tavira,  won the two climbs of the day, becoming the first leader of the mountains classification. Afonso and Zabala were the most resilient, being caught by the peloton with only 16 kilometers to go.

“Getting on the podium of the Volta ao Algarve is fantastic. I attacked shortly after the start, but today, i was rewarded. I’m from the Algarve, I knew the course well, because I train here frequently, and I spared myself for the climbs”said João Rodrigues.

Dylan Groenwegen took command of the general classification, although with the same time of the 106 runners who cut the finish line in the peloton.

The final phase of the stage was marked by some crashes leaving behind three Portuguese who could aspire to overall top positions: Rúben Guerreiro (Trek-Segafredo), Edgar Pinto (Vito-Feirense-BlackJack) and Tiago Machado (Team Katusha Alpecin).

Dutchman Sam Oomen (Team Sunweb) is wearing the white jersey as the best youngster in the competition. Quick-Step Floors lead the teams classification.

Second stage in Fóia
The second stage will be the first major test between the favourites. The stage will take 187.9 kilometers, starting in Sagres at 12.00, and ending at the top of the Fóia (first category climb), around 5:00 p.m. The final ascent has a length of 15.2 kilometers and an average slope of 5.2 per cent.

Before the ascent to Fóia, the peloton will find four other climbs: Monte Ruivo (4th cat. 50,8 km), Marmelete (3rd cat. 71.2 km), Alferce (3rd cat Km 107) and Sapeira (3rd cat. Km 123.4). There will also be two sprints, in Aljezur (Km 63,4) and Portimão (Km 163,4).

At the start of the stage Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) will be awarded with the Prestige Award 2018.

Results
1.ª Etapa: Albufeira – Lagos, 192,6 km
General classification
1.º Dylan Groenewegen (Team LottoNL-Jumbo), 4h47m58s (40,130 km/h)
2.º Arnaud Démare (FDJ), mt
3.º Hugo Hofstetter (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits), mt
4.º Timothy Dupont (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), mt
5.º Jurgen Roelandts (BMC Racing Team), mt
6.º John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo), mt
7.º Jens Keukeleire (Lotto Soudal), mt
8.º Matteo Pelucchi (Bora-hansgrohe), mt
9.º Yves Lampaert (Quick-Step-Floors), mt
10.º Luís Mendonça (Aviludo-Louletano-ULI), mt