Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates) was just edged out for third place on the 187.9-kilometre second stage of the Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta (2.HC) from Sagres to Fòia (Monchique) today.
On his second day of racing for his new team, the Irishman finished fourth behind Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky), Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) and Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) on the summit finish. Martin was passed in the closing metres of the stage when it had looked like he might get second place.
Martin tried to go clear Spilak, Gilbert and Kiryienka. on the 15-kilometre long final climb but it was Kwiatkowski who proved strongest in the small group sprint at the end.
“I always like to race to win, unfortunately the victory just slipped away,” Martin said after the stage. “The important thing though is that the team raced well, with authority, with everyone moving with precision and with the right timing. We knew that we had an opportunity to play for the win and we created the right conditions to try to hit the big target.”
“In the final, I waited for the sprint. It was important to go into the final curve first and I was beside Kwiatkowski, but I wasn’t able to move to the right and in that moment, I knew that I would not be able to pass him.”
Geraint Thomas has taken over the leader’s jersey with Martin in fourth place on the same time as the Welshman.
Volta ao Algarve Stage 2 results
1 Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky) 4h49’51”
2 Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) s.t.
3 Geraint Thomas (Sky) s.t.
4 Daniel Martin (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.
5 Jaime Roson (Movistar) s.t.
General classification after stage 2
1 Geraint Thomas (Sky) 9h37’49”
2 Jaime Roson (Movistar) s.t.
3 Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky) s.t.
4 Daniel Martin (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.
5 Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) s.t.
