Tadej Pogacar boosts Volta ao Algarve lead as Stefan Küng wins stage three time trial
The 20-year-old Slovenian extended his overall lead to 31 seconds over Enric Mas in second place
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) continued to impress following his summit finish stage win on Thursday at the Volta ao Algarve, extending his overall lead in the race after finishing fifth on the stage three individual time trial.
Swiss champion Stefan Küng took the stage; his first victory of the season for new team Groupama-FDJ, finishing two seconds ahead of Søren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb) and five seconds ahead of Yves Lampaert (Deceuninck - Quick-Step).
The 20.3km time trial looked suited to the purer time triallists, and it proved a difficult day for overall hopefuls Wout Poels and David de la Cruz (both Team Sky) and Sam Oomen (Sunweb), who all dropped back on GC after their rides.
How it happened
A fairly flowing 20.3km test against the clock was laid out for the riders on stage three of the 2019 Volta ao Algarve, with some fast times expected.
In the flurry of early riders off of the start ramp, Josef Cerny (CCC Team) went fastest with a time of 25-39, before Mads Pedersen and Irish champion Ryan Mullen (both Trek-Segafredo) beat that time with 25-09 and 24-41 respectively.
Any hopes of a win for Mullen were dashed not long after however, with former Belgian champion Yves Lampaert taking three seconds out of him with a time of 24-41.
Groupama-FDJ's new signing Stefan Küng then looked like he could deliver a maiden victory for the French team, beating Lampaert to the hotseat by five seconds.
With the overall favourites now beginning to take to the course, Küng looked to have a good chance in holding on to take the win.
Søren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb) came closest to beating Küng at just two seconds short, but none of the other overall hopefuls could really muster a challenge in earnest on the stage win.
However, Kragh Andersen's time meant he would make a jump on GC, starting the stage in sixth and moving up to fourth overall following disappointing rides from some of those above him.
Sky pair David de la Cruz and Wout Poels both finished at 53 seconds down to the stage winner, with Sam Oomen further back at 1-20.
Enric Mas (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) also lost a chunk of time, but did enough to leave him in third place at 31 seconds to overall leader Pogacar.
Pogacar put in and impressive ride to extend his overall lead, but will face a final test in the mountains on stage five on Sunday.
Beforehand however, the peloton will tackle what should be a sprint day, with two small categorised climbs on a 198.3km route from Albufeira to Tavira on Saturday's stage two.
Results
Volta ao Algrave 2019, stage three: Lagoa to Lagoa (20.3km, ITT)
1. Stefan Küng (Sui) Groupama-FDJ, in 24-33
2. Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) Team Sunweb, at 2 seconds
3. Yves Lampaert (Bel) Deceuninck-Quick-Step, at 5s
4. Ryan Mullen (Irl) Trek-Segafredo, at 8s
5. Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 17s
6. Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 32s
7. Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo, at 36s
8. Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Team Sky, at same time
9. Nils Politt (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin, at 42s
10. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Deceuninck-Quick-Step, at 43s
General classification after stage three
1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, in 10-16-14
2. Enric Mas (Esp) Deceuninck-Quick-Step, at 31 seconds
3. Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) Team Sunweb, at 36s
4. Wout Poels (Ned) Team Sky, at 37s
5. David de la Cruz (Esp), at 57s
6. Sam Oomen (Ned) Team Sunweb, at 1-08
7. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Deceuninck-Quick-Step, at 2-12
8. Neilson Powless (USA) Jumbo-Visma, at 2-13
9. Marc Hirschi (Sui) Team Sunweb, at 2-35
10. Amaro Antunes (Por) CCC Team, at 2-43
Thank you for reading 10 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
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
-
'Don't use the bike': OPEN recalls all of its Campagnolo Ekar-equipped bikes and framesets
In Cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, OPEN Cycle has sent out a recall for all its Campagnolo Ekar-equipped gravel and road bikes.
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Tour of Flanders 2023: Five men and five women to watch on Sunday
Taking a closer look at the favourites ahead of this year's Ronde van Vlaanderen
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tom Boonen invited to test Colnago V4Rs after criticism of Tadej Pogačar's bike
Boonen and fellow ex-pro Dirk de Wolf invited to Italy for a "public conversation" on the data they used to make claim that bike hindered two-time Tour de France champion
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Molano sprints to stage four victory at UAE Tour to save UAE Team Emirates' race
Colombian rider wins stage for home team at fourth opportunity, as Remco Evenepoel continues in race lead
By Adam Becket • Published
-
All the 2023 kits: EF Education-EasyPost share latest collaboration with Rapha
American WorldTour team become latest to release their new 2023 kit, here's the rest
By Adam Becket • Published
-
From Grand Tour victories to gold medals: The nine best signings of 2022
We look back at the signings that made the biggest impacts during this year's season
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Alpecin-Deceuninck confirm Jay Vine move to UAE Team Emirates
The Australian previously hinted that he'd remain with the Belgian team in 2023
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar is still the best rider in the world, right?
16 wins, a third monument, but second at the Tour de France sums up his 2022
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Adam Yates leaves Ineos Grenadiers for UAE Team Emirates
British rider agrees three year deal with new team
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Remco Evenepoel wins maiden grand tour at Vuelta a España
Juan Sebastián Molano takes a surprise final stage win after a messy sprint in Madrid
By Owen Rogers • Published