Geraint Thomas wins Volta ao Algarve time trial to increase overall lead
Welshman Geraint Thomas puts in blistering performance to claim stage three of the 2018 Volta ao Algarve and strengthen his race lead
Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) increased his overall lead in the 2018 Volta ao Algarve on Friday after winning the race's individual time trial stage.
The Welshman claimed the victory 11 seconds ahead of Belgian Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Soudal), who had enjoyed a long spell in the hot seat after setting an early fast time on the undulating 20.3-kilometre route starting and finishing in Lagoa.
Stefan Küng (BMC Racing) placed third, with the previous day's stage winner, Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) putting in another strong ride to finish fourth.
Former time trial world champions Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin) and Vasil Kiryienka (Team Sky) finished sixth and ninth respectively.
"It's nice to get a win. Like I said yesterday, I just didn't expect it. It all seemed to click today," Thomas said after the victory.
>>> Volta ao Algarve 2018: Latest news, reports and race info
Having already won the race in 2015 and 2016, Thomas said he was keen to add a third victory.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"We'll try and keep the race lead now, we'll have a look at the time gaps but not take anything for granted. Victories are few and far between, so I will enjoy this."
Thomas said that he is off to Tenerife after the race finishes for a team training camp, before staring his campaign in northern Europe.
Thomas now leads team-mate Kwiatkowski by 22 seconds overall, with Portuguese rider Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) in third at 32 seconds.
The 2018 Volta ao Algarve continues on Saturday with stage four, a relatively flat trip from Almodôvar to Tavira taking in 199.2km. The UCI 2.HC-ranked race concludes on Sunday, February 18.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AntnS1WXA4
Result
Volta ao Algarve 2018, stage three: Lagoa to Lagoa, 20.3km
1. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky, in 24-09
2. Victor Campenaerts (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at 11 secs
3. Stefan Küng (Sui) BMC Racing, at 19 secs
4. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky, at 22 secs
5. Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar, at 22 secs
6. Tony Martin (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin, at 27 secs
7. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing, at 47 secs
8. Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step Floors, at 49 secs
9. Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky, at 50 secs
10. Lukasz Wisniowski (Pol) Team Sky, at 51 secs
General classification after stage three
1. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky, in 10-01-58
2. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky, at 22 secs
3. Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar, at 32 secs
4. Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step Floors, at 52 secs
5. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing, at 53 secs
6. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 1-01
7. Jaime Roson (Esp) Movistar, at 1-18
8. Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) Quick-Step Floors, at 1-19
9. Felix Großschartner (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 1-20
10. Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky, at 1-24
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
-
'I'd love to be an F1 driver': Get to know GB track sprinter Emma Finucane
World sprint champion tells Cycling Weekly about her earliest Olympics memories, drinking coffee in Jakarta, and her passion for F1
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I felt like I was the worst rider in the bunch' - Simon Carr dispels doubt with longest ever solo win at Tour of the Alps
Brit triumphs from lone 45km breakaway, after days of battling allergies
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Why are teams wearing TT helmets in road races?
Time trial helmets aren't just for time trialling, as Uno-X will testify
By Tom Davidson Published
-
‘I feel lucky to be alive’: Magnus Sheffield speaks for the first time about Gino Mäder’s fatal crash
The American describes what he saw at the Tour de Suisse, eight months after the tragedy
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Geraint Thomas is still the king of dad jokes
Get your fix of the week's best cycling posts from social media
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tom Pidcock: Tour of Britain route 'not really ideal for me'
Brit says he wants to win home stage race, even if the course plays in Wout van Aert's favour
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Trek's new Lidl kit, Alaphilippe's unusual training and the Cavendish/Thomas show
Your favourite social media roundup from the world of professional cycling
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tweets of the week: Geraint Thomas has a happy birthday and Elisa Balsamo gets her unicorn back
Oh and Jumbo-Visma gets back into its Twitter account
By Adam Becket Published
-
This 39-year-old INEOS Grenadiers rider moonlights as a pro triathlete
A Jack of all trades, Cameron Wurf is a domestique for INEOS Grenadiers professional cycling team, but doubles as a successful pro triathlete.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
21 things you didn't know about Geraint Thomas
Rugby over football, Eminem, podcasts – oh, and some cycling stuff
By James Shrubsall Published