Milan Fretin (Cofidis) won the fourth stage of the Volta ao Algarve in a thrilling sprint finish in Faro, after a 175.2-kilometer ride that started in Albufeira.
The race allowed us to anticipate some surprises, with a route that offered possibilities for almost the entire peloton. If, on one hand, the route offered some chances for the GC riders to try and gain time before the final time trial, on other hand the stage could suit the classics specialists or even the sprinters.
And it fell precisely to the sprinters.
Before, of course, there was the breakaway of the day, set up as early as kilometer five: Nicolás Tivani (Aviludo – Louletano – Loulé), with later aspirations for the Save Water Blue Jersey, was one of the members of the group, along with Warre Vangheluwe (Soudal Quick-Step), Johan Jacobs (Groupama-FDJ) and Gorka Sorarrain (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA).
4ª Etapa Albufeira – Faro, 175,2Km, 22.02.2025 da 51ª Volta ao Algarve, de 19 a 23 de Fevereiro de 2025 Foto: João Calado / FPC
And the stage, until almost the finish in Faro, was relatively uneventful. Although the gap was as much as eight minutes, the bunch always controlled the breakaway, where Nicolás Tivani, with victories in the first two mountain passes of the day, sealed the win in the Mountain Classification – if he finishes the final TT this Sunday, he’ll take home the Saver Water Blue Jersey.
The breakaway riders were caught 17 kilometers from the finish line, and from there the peloton made its way to Faro, in a race end in which Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visa | Lease a Bike) didn’t escape a setback. One of the big contenders for the GC, the Danish rider had a puncture two thousand meters from the finish line and fell behind: he was, however, already inside the protection zone, so he didn’t lose any time on GC.
On the long straight to the finish line, with a slight climb, it was Milan Fretin who surprised and took the lead in a group that included strong names like Wout van Aert (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Jordi Meeus (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) – the Crédito Agrícola Green Jersey –, Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) or Biniam Girmay (Intermarché – Wanty).
4ª Etapa Albufeira – Faro, 175,2Km, 22.02.2025 da 51ª Volta ao Algarve, de 19 a 23 de Fevereiro de 2025 Foto: Paulo Maria / FPC
Meeus and Ganna were close to “steal” Fretin’s smile, but it was the 23-year-old Belgian who celebrated in front of another fervent crowd who gathered on Avenida Calouste Gulbenkian to watch the end of day four of the Algarvia.
“It’s a fantastic feeling. To win here is spectacular, in a race with so many good cyclists. I’m speechless. The team believed in me, I was confident too, and that’s the most important thing as a sprinter”, said Fretin after the stage.
4ª Etapa Albufeira – Faro, 175,2Km, 22.02.2025 da 51ª Volta ao Algarve, de 19 a 23 de Fevereiro de 2025 Foto: Paulo Maria / FPC
Going into the final stage of the Volta ao Algarve, Jan Christen is the owner of the Visit Algarve Yellow Jersey, four seconds ahead of UAE Team Emirates XRG teammate João Almeida. Laurens De Plus (INEOS Grenadiers) is third overall.
And it’s at Alto do Malhão, this Sunday, that everything will come down to the wire, in a time trial that promises. The party starts at 13:31 in Salir.