The Alto da Foia gave a chance to make some differences in the General Classification, but after a more broken finish, the third stage of the Volta ao Algarve this Friday ended in a sprint.
An Avenida Zeca Afonso packed with an enthusiastic crowd watched Jordi Meeus (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) take victory on day three of the Algarvia, after a thrilling finish that was decided down to the last detail.
“It’s my first official win of the season, so I’m very happy. I felt really good, the finish suited me, with a slight climb, and then I just had to manage the timings. I managed the last corner well and then the timing of the sprint was perfect”, said the Belgian rider.
3ª Etapa Vila Real de Santo António – Tavira, 183,5Km, 21.02.2025 da 51ª Volta ao Algarve, de 19 a 23 de Fevereiro de 2025 Foto: Paulo Maria / FPC
Just like the day before, it didn’t take long for the race to change: after an unsuccessful first attempt by Carlos Salgueiro (AP Hotels & Resorts / Tavira / SC Farense) – who won the day’s Cofidis Combativity Prize – a breakaway of ten riders, again with Salgueiro, managed to break away from the peloton at kilometer five.
From then on, and for much of the afternoon, it was a steady race. The bunch always controlled the front group, despite some oscillations, and grew closer as time went by.
The first mountain count, in Mercador, was still dominated by the breakaway and led by Calum Johnston (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), but just over 40 kilometers later, in the second count of the day, in Faz Fato, the peloton was all together. There, Nicolás Tivani stood out, ending the stage as the owner of the Save Water Blue Jersey.
3ª Etapa Vila Real de Santo António – Tavira, 183,5Km, 21.02.2025 da 51ª Volta ao Algarve, de 19 a 23 de Fevereiro de 2025 Foto: João Calado / FPC
And then there was the crescendo to the final sprint. The peloton remained tightly packed, Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) took the lead at the only intermediate sprint of the day, in Vila Real de Santo António, and attention turned to the finishing straight, on Avenida Zeca Afonso, packed with a crowd that intensely witnessed the last few meters of the race.
Tavira crowned Jordi Meeus (Red Bull – Bora – hansgrohe) as the stage winner – and the new Crédito Agrícola Green Jersey – ahead of Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Cycling Team), the other two men on the podium.
Alberto Dainese (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) was the second to cross the finish line, but was relegated to last place in the bunch due to an irregular sprint.
In the top-10 of the GC, there was one noted change: Romain Bardet, from Team Picnic PostNL, was fourth, but abandoned the race after a crash and allowed António Morgado (UAE Team Emirates XRG) to move up a position.
This means that Jan Christen, also of UAE Team Emirates XRG, remains the Visit Algarve Yellow Jersey, four seconds ahead of teammate João Almeida. Laurens De Plus of INEOS Grenadiers is in third.
3ª Etapa Vila Real de Santo António – Tavira, 183,5Km, 21.02.2025 da 51ª Volta ao Algarve, de 19 a 23 de Fevereiro de 2025 Foto: João Calado / FPC
The Algarve continues this Saturday with the fourth stage, linking Albufeira to Faro, on a 175.2-kilometer course that promises a busy race.
The day will also be marked by the Algarve Granfondo, starting and finishing in Faro. The start is scheduled for 8.30 a.m., in an initiative that will have participants from more than 30 countries and offers fans of the sport the chance to race on the same circuit as the cyclists taking part in the Volta ao Algarve.