Sacha Modolo continues winning streak in Tour of the Algarve

Lampre-Merida sprinter Sacha Modolo wins opening stage of the 2014 Volta ao Algarve - World champion Rui Costa second

Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida wins Stage 1 of the 2014 Volta ao Algarve from Rui Costa (Por) (Lampre-Merida) amd Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) (Omgea Pharma Quickstep)
Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida wins Stage 1 of the 2014 Volta ao Algarve from Rui Costa (Por) (Lampre-Merida) amd Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) (Omgea Pharma Quickstep)
(Image credit: Graham Watson)

Italian sprinter Sacha Modolo (Lampre-Merida) has continued his strong start to the 2014 season, winning the opening stage of the Volta ao Algarve to add to his victories in the Tour de San Luis and Mallorca Challenge.

Modolo took the bunch sprint and early race lead at the end of an undulating stage in Portugal ahead of team mate and world champion Rui Costa, with Alessandro Petacchi (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) in third.

British sprinter Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) did not figure in the finale, and cam home in 92nd place.

Home favourite Costa will no doubt be eyeing the second stage on Thursday, a hilly route with a sharp climb in the final 10km that will suit an attacking rider.

Results
Volta ao Algarve, stage one: Faro to Albufeira, 160km
1. Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida

2. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida

3. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickStep

4. Bryan Coquard (Fra) Europcar

5. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty-Groupe Gobert

6. Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ

7. Edgar Pinto (Por) LA Aluminios-Antarte

8. Daniel Schorn (Aut) NetApp-Endura

9. Alexey Tsatevich (Rus) Katusha

10. Juan Jose Lobato (Spa) Movistar all same time

Overall classification after stage one

1. Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida

2. Cesar Fonte (Por) Radio Popular at 1 sec

3. Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida at 4 secs

4. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 6 secs

5. Luis Alfonso (Por) LA Aluminios-Antarte at 6 secs

6. Bryan Coquard (Fra) Europcar at 10 secs

7. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty-Groupe Gobert at 10 secs

8. Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ at 10 secs

9. Mikael Delage (Fra) FDJ at 10 secs

10. Edgar Pinto (Por) LA Aluminios-Antarte at 10 secs

Mark Cavendish in action during Stage 1 of the 2014 Volta ao Algarve

Mark Cavendish in action during Stage 1 of the 2014 Volta ao Algarve
(Image credit: Graham Watson)

Rui Costa on the podium after Stage 1 of the 2014 Volta ao Algarve

Rui Costa on the podium after Stage 1 of the 2014 Volta ao Algarve
(Image credit: Graham Watson)

Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida wins Stage 1 of the 2014 Volta ao Algarve from Rui Costa (Por) (Lampre-Merida) amd Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) (Omgea Pharma Quickstep)

Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-Merida wins Stage 1 of the 2014 Volta ao Algarve from Rui Costa (Por) (Lampre-Merida) amd Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) (Omgea Pharma Quickstep)
(Image credit: Graham Watson)

Sacha Modolo (Ita) (Lampre-Merida) on the podium after winning Stage 1 of the 2014 Volta ao Algarve from Rui Costa (Por) (Lampre-Merida) amd Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) (Omgea Pharma Quickstep)

Sacha Modolo (Ita) (Lampre-Merida) on the podium after winning Stage 1 of the 2014 Volta ao Algarve from Rui Costa (Por) (Lampre-Merida) amd Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) (Omgea Pharma Quickstep)
(Image credit: Graham Watson)

Cavendish to the Tour of Algarve with Renshaw and Petacchi

Sacha Modolo wins Trofeo Palma

International cycling race round-up: Results from Trofeo Palma, Etoile de Besseges and Jayco Herald Sun Tour

Mark Cavendish pipped by Sacha Modolo in San Luis

Italian Sacha Modolo pips Manxman to take race lead in Argentina

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
Former Associate Editor

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.