Final KM: Stage 5, Vuelta a Andalucia, Volta ao Algarve

A time trial with a difference and a smash and grab stage raid and a Team Sky double up. Let’s get down to the action on the final day of racing in Spain and Portugal.

Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol: St 5, Barbate to Barbate, ITT. 14.2km

After the crazy-paved hill climb on stage 4, stage 5 saw a time trial with a 5km section of gravel road on the menu. We loved it and it undoubtedly suited some riders more than others. Sky’s David de la Cruz mastered the gravel and tarmac for a surprising stage win. Teammate Wout Poels rode himself to second place overall with Marc Soler‘s (Movistar) 5th place on the day leaping him to third step on the GC podium. However, Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal’s) did more than enough to ensure he went home with the leader’s jersey. He’s flying this year, watch out for him on the Belgian cobbles and beyond.

Video…

Love this smile from David de la Cruz

And he's pretty happy about it! pic.twitter.com/7rVGcJo9a5

— Team Sky (@TeamSky) February 18, 2018

Your GC podium…

READ the story of the @Tim_Wellens victory @VCANDALUCIA! https://t.co/qpdUjnD3VL pic.twitter.com/F8E74YM06W

— Lotto Soudal (@Lotto_Soudal) February 18, 2018

“If I could design a TT for me, it would be like this”

"Tim Wellens – Post race interview – Stage 5 – Tour of Andalucia / Vuelta a Andalucia 2018" : https://t.co/9jbMN0eSNu via @YouTube

— VeloPro.fr (@VeloProFR) February 18, 2018

Luis Mas Bonet (Caja Rural – RGA) finally gets to take home the KOM jersey #bravo

Full race report at Cycling News

Race Website Race Twitter #64RdS (also #VueltaAndalucia #RutadelSol)

Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta: St 5, Faro to Malhão, 173.5km

Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky) joined the break of the day, made his stage winning solo move on the final ascent of the Malhao, and grabbed the race leader’s jersey right off teammate Geraint Thomas‘s back. Ruben Guerreiro (Trek-Segafredo) gave it everything to finish second on the day with Dimension Data’s Serge Pauwels rounding out the stage podium. Kwiatkowski took his second Volta ao Algarve title by 1:31 mins from Thomas with a battling ride by Tejay van Garderen (BMC) taking him to third. Sam Oomen (Sunweb)was best young rider and Ben King (Dimension Data) King of the Mountains

Video,

Taking the race lead from a teammate is not a decision to be taken lightly…

"The only way I was going to be able to look G in the eyes after the race was going to be if I won the stage and did everything perfectly."@kwiato reveals the pressure he put himself under during the final stage of #VAlgarve2018

🗣️ https://t.co/jw8HlP9k6L pic.twitter.com/PxjdxMn3ro

— Team Sky (@TeamSky) February 18, 2018

Both Michal and Ruben had teammates at their backs…

#VAlgarve2018 Kwiatkowski should be relatively relaxed, he has Gołaś with him. Gołaś is never visible but tons of work he puts in & his tactical judgement are of the key value.

— Paweł Gadzała (@8aldwin) February 18, 2018

"I was motivated 100% to be good for this race. It was really hard; I was lucky to have Jasper (Stuyven) who did a really big job because the group was not working well together." @Rguerreiro94

Read more of the exciting #VAlgarve2018 final stage here → https://t.co/re8DOf7YSe pic.twitter.com/33l1ethTZj

— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) February 18, 2018

Zdenek Stybar out in the break and attacking solo. More Please

View this post on Instagram

He didn't win today's #VAlgarve18 stage, but @stybarzdenek showed why he's a member of #TheWolfpack 👏👏 #WayToRide 📸 @gettysport

A post shared by Deceuninck – Quick-Step Team (@deceuninck_quickstepteam) on Feb 18, 2018 at 11:00am PST