Rui Costa 4th on first big Algarve test

UAE Team Emirates put in a strong team display at the Volta ao Algarve (2.Pro) which culminated in a 4th place in the reduced uphill sprint with Rui Costa on stage 2 from Sagres to Alto da Fóia (183.9k).

After splitting the group on the penultimate climb Costa found himself in a group of 15 riders battling for the win in Alto da Foia, the highest point in this years race. It was Remco Evenepoel who proved the quickest when he jumped with 500m to go with Costa unable to match the speed of the Deceuninck Quick Step rider.

Costa now holds his spot on the podium ahead of stage 3 from Faro to Tavira (201.9k) which should be a day for the sprinters.

Meanwhile in the Vuelta a Andalucia (2.Pro) David de la Cruz holds 10th place overall heading into stage 3 which will be a crucial day for the GC contenders from Jáen to Ubeda (176.9k).

Rui Costa: “The team did a magnificent job today. They all did their bit throughout the stage so we can be happy with that. In the final we set a hard pace on the front with Dombrowski and later Polanc which got rid of a lot of the big riders. The wind made it quite a complicated finish to judge and Evenepoel jumped and caught everybody out at the end. There is still a lot of racing to do this week so we’ll work towards a stage win and keeping high on the GC.”

 
Stage 3 results

1.Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck Quick Step) 4h36’38’’
2.Max Schachmann (Bora hansgrohe) +0’’
3.Dan Martin (ISU Nation) +2’’
4. Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) +2’’

 
General Classification after stage 3

1.Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck Quick Step) 9h42’15’’
2.Max Schachmann (Bora hansgrohe) +0’’
3. Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) +2’’
4.Dan Martin (ISU Nation) +2’’