Volta ao Algarve: Cancellara wins stage 3 time trial in Sagres

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Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) confirmed his solid form ahead of the Spring Classics with an emphatic victory in the 18km stage 3 time trial at the Volta ao Algarve. The Swiss rider topped Tony Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) by five seconds to take the win in Sagres. Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) was third on the stage.

Overnight race leader Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) was forced to abandon the race after crashing while heading full speed through a roundabout in an attempt to defend his jersey. At the intermediate check, Sanchez was 13 seconds behind Thomas and in danger of losing the race lead.

Following the abandon of Sanchez, Tony Martin moved into the race lead with a slim margin over Geraint Thomas. Thanks to a strong performance on the mountains on stage 2, Martin started the day 25 seconds out of the race lead, but put 23 seconds into Thomas to lead by three seconds on GC. Movistar's Ion Izagirre is third overall at 20 seconds.

Martin knows he will have his work cut out when the race hits the high mountains on the final stage.

"I am happy with my performance, but not so content with the result," Martin said. "It was pretty hard today with the headwind, but I'm not looking for excuses. Fabian was stronger, and that's that. I now look towards tomorrow and helping Marcel [Kittel]. After that, we'll sit down and talk about the last day. Of course, I want to keep the yellow jersey now, but it won't be easy, as there are many top riders here. Still, I am confident, because I have a very strong team, and we'll just see how things will pan out on the final day."

He's back

Cancellara shrugged off a disastrous 2015 season, one that could have easily ended his career prematurely. After crashing in E3 Harelbeke and fracturing his vertebrae, he fought back to take the yellow jersey at the Tour de France only to lose it the next day when he was involved in a mass pile-up and again fractured bones in his back. After making another comeback for the Vuelta a España only to succumb to a stomach virus, he ended his season and announced he would retire in 2016.

Cancellara promised to give the 2016 season one last good crack, with an aim at adding to his record of triple wins in Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, and showed he was off to a good start by winning the Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana in Mallorca with a solo attack.

His time trial victory in Algarve is further confirmation that he is on track for a strong spring if he can avoid injuries and illness.

"I don't say that today's win gives me more confidence because the confidence I need is more from races like Tirreno-Adriatico because this will show me that I am in the right way," Cancellara said. "There is still some work to do; next week I will take a small rest and move on again with Strade [Bianche] and Tirreno. I still need more, because I need to compete with the others who have been racing in Qatar and Oman. I am just enjoying riding my bike, riding the races, and this makes me feel relaxed. To take another win on top is super cool for myself and super nice for the team and for the motivation for everyone."

Martin's race lead adds to a string of success for Etixx-Quickstep. including dual stage wins in Tour de San Luis by Fernando Gaviria, four wins by Marcel Kittel between the Dubai Tour and Algarve, in addition to victories by Bob Jungels in Oman, Gianluca Brambilla in Mallorca and Stijn Vandenbergh in the Volta a la Valenciana.

He faces a stiff challenge from Thomas and a strong Movistar team, which placed four riders in the top 10 of the time trial, and will hope to set up Izagirre for the overall victory when the race concludes atop the Alto do Malhão on Sunday.

The weather was cool and favourable for the time trial when the 179-rider field readied for the start after noon. Viktor Manakov (Gazprom-Rusvelo) was the first rider off, but his time was quickly eclipsed by teammate Alexander Serov. A few minutes later, Yves Lampaert (Etixx-Quickstep) stepped into the hot seat with a time that would stand up to the top 20 by the day's end.

However strong Lampaert's result was, it was no match for former Hour Record holder Matthias Braendle (IAM Cycling), whose time held for an hour until Alex Dowsett (Movistar) came through 16 seconds quicker.

Dowsett was unseated by Cancellara, who cruised through with a 20:57 for the 18km distance, the only rider to crack 21 minutes. While a legion of riders tried and failed to better the Swiss star's time, only Martin could come close but was still shy five seconds.

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