Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar Team) won the third stage of the Volta ao Algarve, an 18-kilometer individual time trial that led Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Team Lotto NL-Jumbo) to the top of the overall standings.

The time trial of the Volta ao Algarve held in Sagres allowed Spaniard Jonathan Castroviejo to win for the first time wearing the European Champion Jersey. The TT specialist finished the 18 kilometres in 21m24s, improving 10 seconds on the previous year’s personal record at Sagres. World champion Tony Martin (Team Katusha Alpecin) was once again second in Sagres, with 21m28s, 26 slower than the one achieved a year ago. The third in the TT  was the Slovenian Primoz Roglic, 5 seconds behind the first.

“Almost every year I run here in the Algarve, and I’ve been looking to win here for some time. I recognised the course, and the sensations were good throughout the TT. In all the TT I ran in 2016, I was in the Top 4. Winning at the beginning of the season is very important. My result on the Fóia was pretty good, and that gives me the moral to try to win other races. The general of the Volta ao Algarve is not yet closed. Malhão is a very explosive ascent, and each one will go to its limit “, said Castroviejo.

The third place in the stage allowed the Slovenian counter-champion champion Primoz Roglic to win the Yellow Jersey (Tourism of Algarve) and thus becoming the main favourite to conquer the 43rd edition of the Volta ao Algarve. Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) has reached second place. Jonathan Castroviejo is third in overall, 36 seconds behind.

“I’m a Time Trial specialist, but I want to be more than that. For now, I want to discuss GC classification in one-week races. I’ll defend the yellow jersey. I know the climb to Malhão and know that it will be a difficult day, but I count on the support of my teammates. Each one will give his best, me and my opponents, but, in the end, I hope to take this jersey home,” said Roglic.

The Irishman Daniel Martin (Quick-Step Floors) was unable to defend the lead, making the 74th time in the stage, descending to sixth place overall, 1m31s behind Roglic. Martin leads the points classification, and also the Liberty Seguros Blue Jersey for the best climber.

Belgian Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal) took another step towards being the best youngster of the race for the second consecutive year, holding on to the Sicasal White Jersey.

The fourth stage of the Volta ao Algarve, the longest of the race, has 203.4 kilometres between Almodôvar and Tavira. It will be the second opportunity for the sprinters to shine, in a town that always welcomes the caravan in a warm way.

Classificações
3.ª Etapa/3rd Stage: Sagres – Sagres, 18 km
1.º Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar Team), 21m24s (50,467 km/h)
2.º Tony Martin (Team Katusha Alpecin), a 4s
3.º Primoz Roglic (Team Lotto NL-Jumbo), a 5s
4.º Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky), mt
5.º Lars Boom (Team Lotto NL-Jumbo), a 11s
6.º Arnaud Démare (FDJ), a 12s
7.º Alex Dowsett (Movistar Team), a 16s
8.º Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Dimension Data), a 20s
9.º Nelson Oliveira (Movistar Team), mt
10.º Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal), a 21s

Geral/Overall
1.º Primoz Roglic (Team Lotto NL-Jumbo), 9h36m29s
2.º Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky), a 22s
3.º Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar Team), a 36s
4.º Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal), a 55s
5.º Luis León Sánchez (Astana), a 59s
6.º Daniel Martin (Quick-Step Floors), a 1m31s
7.º Tony Martin (Team Katusha Alpecin), a 1m40s
8.º Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal), a 1m49s
9.º Amaro Antunes (W52-FC Porto), a 1m54s
10.º Rinaldo Nocentini (Sporting-Tavira), a 1m56s