We have winners, new faces and old faces and some making a happy return to racing.
Stage 5, Volta ao Algarve em BicicletaIa
Remco Evenepoel sealed his second stage race victory of the year with a stunning time trail at Lagoa. The Deceuninck QuickStep young gun seared around the course 10seconds faster than reigning World TT Champion Rohan Dennis (Ineos), with Stefan Kung taking third for Groupama-FDJ. Max Schachmann (BORA-hansgrohe) and Astana’s Miguel Angel Lopez delivered top five performances to ensure their second and third places on the GC podium respectively. As well as yellow and best young rider jersey for Remco, the Quicksteppers also claimed the red points jersey with Fabio Jakobsen.
Full race report here
I’m really happy, I knew it was just 20km full gas and I started quite fast and then I knew that in the hilly sections, on the downhills, that I had to recover well, so that’s what I did. I just went all out. – Remco making it all seem so easy
Three riders in the TT top 12 was enough for Ineos to claim the best team prize from UAE-Emirates. The World Champion stripes look good.
Race Website VAlgarve2020 #VAlgarve2020
Stage 4, Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol
Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) pulled out a great time trial to retain the title he won last year. The Dane cruised around the technical course and nearly grabbed his third stage win of the race. Mitchelton- Scott’s Jack Haig put in a fine ride to switch places with Mikel Landa (Bahrain McLaren) and stand on the second step of the GCpodium. Bahrain McLaren didn’t go away without a winnning on the last day as stage honours went to Dylan Teuns, with Alex Edmondson (Mitchelton-Scott) claiming third.
Of course, for me it was important to keep the jersey but with a short and intense TT, you have to give everything and I didn’t want to take to many risks on the descent so to finish second, I am really happy. I hope it will be a good season and starting like this with a good result here gives me confidence and I can now work towards my next goals. Jakob Fuglsang
Race Website @VCANDALUCIA #66rds
Stage 3, Tour des Alpes Maritimes et du Var
Trek-Segafredo’s Julien Bernard attacked clear of his breakaway companions and flew solo to claim the stage on Mont Faron – his first professional victory. Nans Peters (AG2R La Mondiale) and Lars van den Berg (Groupama-FDJ) finished second and third respectively. race leader Nairo Quintana finished safely in the group to add his second stage race crown in as many weeks, 40 seconds ahead of Romain Bardet (AG2R-La Mondiale) and Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo).
LOVE
Stage 1, UAE Tour
SPRIIIIIINT STAAAAAGE. The UAE Tour always boasts a great line up of fastmen and this time it was Pascal Ackermann (BORA-hansgrohe) who claimed sprinters bragging rights in a messy run to the line. It really was only for the brave at the sharp end. Ackermann opened early and kept Caleb Ewan and Israel Start-Up Nation’s Rudy Barbier safely behind him.
Look who’s back
Early season ‘when did this transfer happen?’ questions. Wout Poels and Chris Froome not on the same team.
Race Website @uae_tour #UAETour
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