André Greipel claimed his second victory of 2017 at Volta ao Algarve on Saturday in Tavira, Portugal. Lotto – Soudal’s German speedster beat his countryman John Degenkolb (Trek – Segafredo) after 203.4km of racing. Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL – Jumbo) was third in the bunch gallop on the race’s penultimate day, writes velonews.com..
“Jürgen [Roelandts] led me to the wheel of Arnaud Démare in the last kilometer,” Greipel said. “I lost some positions when Richeze took Gavria to the front. I did a long and fast sprint and was lucky to get the wheel of Degenkolb. I beat him on the line. It was a nice sprint to watch I think.”
Stage 4, top 10
1. André GREIPEL, LOTTO SOUDAL, in 4:57:51
2. John DEGENKOLB, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at :00
3. Dylan GROENEWEGEN, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, at :00
4. Arnaud DEMARE, FDJ, at :00
5. Jasper STUYVEN, TREK – SEGAFREDO, at :00
6. Andrea PASQUALON, WANTY – GROUPE GOBERT, at :00
7. Fernando GAVIRIA RENDON, QUICK – STEP FLOORS, at :00
8. Nacer BOUHANNI, COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS, at :00
9. Michael SCHWARZMANN, BORA – HANSGROHE, at :00
10. Edvald BOASSON HAGEN, TEAM DIMENSION DATA, at :00
Top-10 overall
1. Primož ROGLIC, TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO, in 14:34:20
2. Michal KWIATKOWSKI, TEAM SKY, at :22
3. Jonathan CASTROVIEJO, MOVISTAR TEAM, at :36
4. Tony GALLOPIN, LOTTO SOUDAL, at :55
5. Luis León SANCHEZ, ASTANA PRO TEAM, at :59
6. Daniel MARTIN, QUICK – STEP FLOORS, at 1:31
7. Tony MARTIN, TEAM KATUSHA ALPECIN, at 1:40
8. Tiesj BENOOT, LOTTO SOUDAL, at 1:49
9. Manuel Antures AMARO, W52/FC PORTO, at 1:54
10. Rinaldo NOCENTINI, STA, at 1:56
A four-man escape got a lead of up to six minutes at one point. The sprinters’ teams, as well as race leader Primoz Roglic’s LottoNL – Jumbo squad were forced to chase hard to bring the race back together. “The team controlled the race,” Roglic said. “It’s not an easy task, but we succeeded. Tomorrow, we should do the same and keep the jersey.”
“It was a cat and mouse game between the break and the bunch,” Greipel added. “In the last 70 kilometers it was really à bloc. Frederik Frison and Jelle Wallays where riding at the head of the bunch for us, chasing down the leaders. It was really close, but we caught them in the end.”
Sunday’s 179.2km stage 5 from Loulé to Malhão may offer one last chance for the overall standings to reshuffle. The route is lumpy with a three-kilometer finish climb on Alto de Malhão.
For the full State 4 results, go to www.velonews.com
