FINAL KM: Volta ao Algarve St 4; Ruta del Sol St 4; Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var St.2

Racing in the form of a three-up climbers sprint, two flying Colombians, and one sparkling Aussie.

Stage 4, Volta ao Algarve em BicicletaIa

Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) tested his rivals with an attack with 2km to go on the final climb, and then hit them with a turn of pace they could not match in the final 500m to grab stage victory atop the Alto do Malhao. Dan Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation) followed him home and race leader Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck QuickStep) turned himself inside out to claim third and retain the jersey. Evenepoel, Martin and Max Schachmann (BORA-hansgrohe) all share the same time on GC, with Lopez one second behind in 4th. the final time trial should be exciting – I’m worried for Dan.

Full race report here

What an attack and what a win for @SupermanlopezN on the legendary Alto do Malhão! 👏👏👏 #VAlgarve2020 #AstanaProTeam 📷 @GettySport pic.twitter.com/qQow9e857n

— Astana Pro Team (@AstanaTeam) February 22, 2020

When I say he gave everything to hang on in those final tortuous metres.

Photo of the year (so far) right here!
You can get a better picture of the effort @EvenepoelRemco put in on Alto do Malhão to keep the #VAlgarve2020 overall lead. pic.twitter.com/xdrQyvDPn8

— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) February 22, 2020

Dries de Bondt (Alpecin Fenix) has been on the attack and in the mix on every stage. Love that he took the King of the Mountains jersey (gasp! it is not polka dots). Never hide your light under under a bushel Dries.

Look who’s back

#VAlgarve2020 🇵🇹
Onto the Malhao climb for the first time ahead of the finish. The sole antagonist up the road has over 1 minute.@vincenzonibali makes an attack! pic.twitter.com/ACrCm8OUTk

— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) February 22, 2020

Great shot

Dan Martin looks rejuvenated after fantastic ride in Portugal – video https://t.co/uRCOVEPdFd #VAlgarve2020 pic.twitter.com/OYeXQzS0gu

— Sticky Bottle (@sticky_bottle) February 22, 2020

Race Website VAlgarve2020 #VAlgarve2020

Stage 4 ,Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol

After fireworks and verbal shenanigans on the final climb and a swooping descent the stage ended in a three-up climbers sprint in Granada. Jack Haig (Mitchelton Scott) played it cool and smart to came around race leader Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) and snatch victory. Mikel Landa (Bahrain McLaren) rounded out the podium. Fuglsang retains his jersey by 14secs to Landa with Haig third at +35secs

Victory must taste even sweeter after missing a crucial turn in yesterday’s finale. Great to see Jack flying free on these climbs.

🗞 REPORT 🗞

"Today was a really nice feeling & a reassuring feeling knowing I am heading in the right direction." – @jackhaig93
🎙#66RdS 🇪🇸https://t.co/GziUZtAEC4

— Mitchelton-SCOTT (@MitcheltonSCOTT) February 22, 2020

Full race report here

Race Website @VCANDALUCIA #66rds

Stage 2, Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var

Nairo Quintana can’t seem to stop attacking. After his exploits on Ventoux at the Tour de la Provence, the Colombian flew away on the Col d’Eze to deliver Arkea-Samsic another victory. Forty seconds after his arrival, the chase group was led home by Simon Clarke (EF Pro Cycling) with Total Direct Energie’s Lilian Calmejane in third. He now leads the race by 38secs from Michael Storer (Sunweb). With one stage to go I don’t see anyone catching him.

🚴‍♂️🏆 | #Tour0683

Victoire de Nairo Quintana en haut du col d’Eze 🔥 Cavalier seul pour le Colombien dans les derniers kilomètres. Il prend le maillot de leader. pic.twitter.com/85KhbNN1lp

— Simon Courteille (@SimCourteille) February 22, 2020

👍🏻👍🏻 @NairoQuinCo au sommet du col d’Eze 1er sur cette deuxième étape du Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var #Tousensemble @bettiniphoto pic.twitter.com/LLlim20xWC

— Team Arkéa Samsic (@Arkea_Samsic) February 22, 2020

Kenny Elissonde sums it up