Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) is the new Volta ao Algarve champion.
The Danish cyclist chose the south of Portugal to start the season, in an unprecedented appearance in the race, and leaves the Algarve with a smile on his face and good feelings in his legs.
In an exciting – and never-before-seen – time trial finishing at Alto do Malhão, Vingegaard put on a show, making up time on all the competition and securing the Visit Algarve Yellow Jersey in this fifth stage.
Jan Christen, from UAE Team Emirates XRG, came into this final day of the Algarve as the leader of the General Classification, four seconds ahead of João Almeida, his teammate.
But other strong names in world cycling were heading into this fifth stage with aspirations of the final victory, such as Primož Roglič (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe), Laurens De Plus (INEOS Grenadiers), Tao Geoghegan Hart (Lidl-Trek) or António Morgado (UAE Team Emirates XRG), as well as Vingegaard, of course.
For much of the day, however, it was a teammate of the Danish racer, Wout van Aert, who sat in the leader’s seat. The Belgian cyclist was the first to drop the 28th minute and led the stage until almost the end.
Only Vingegaard was able to do better, with a very balanced TT whose highlight was the final stretch, the mythical climb to Alto do Malhão, where the Danish rider gained the final advantage over his teammate.
João Almeida was also in the final fight, with the best climb to Malhão of the afternoon, but the discreet early part of the race prevented the Portuguese from celebrating at home.
5ª Etapa Salir – Malhão (Loulé), 19,6Km, 21.02.2025 da 51ª Volta ao Algarve, de 19 a 23 de Fevereiro de 2025 Foto: Paulo Maria / FPC
Jan Christen didn’t get to celebrate either: the Swiss rider from UAE Team Emirates XRG was the owner of the Visit Algarve Yellow Jersey all week, but ended up finishing in the bottom-10 of the GC and also losing the IPDJ White Jersey, for youth.
As the curtain closes on the 51st Volta ao Algarve, it’s Jonas Vingegaard who emerges as the main figure, ahead of João Almeida and Lauren De Plus in the General Classification.
“Of course I’m very happy, it was a great day for me and the team. I’m proud. Before the race, my daughter told me that I had to win today, so that gave me motivation. It was a very good TT, I really enjoyed it”, said the winner.
Jordi Meeus (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe) finished in the Crédito Agrícola Green Jersey – Points, Nicolás Tivani (Aviludo – Louletano – Loulé) in the Save Water Blue Jersey – Mountain and Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) in the IPDJ White Jersey – Youth.
5ª Etapa Salir – Malhão (Loulé), 19,6Km, 21.02.2025 da 51ª Volta ao Algarve, de 19 a 23 de Fevereiro de 2025 Foto: Paulo Maria / FPC