Gilbert claims Algarve opener with late attack

Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) won the opening stage of the Volta ao Algarve with a perfectly-timed attack in the final kilometre. The 28-year-old Belgian finished five seconds clear of the peloton, with Gerald Ciolek (Quick Step) taking the field sprint for second place ahead of Gilbert's teammate André Greipel.

"As we had discussed during the pre-race meeting, Phil attacked on the last short climb with 800 metres to go," said Omega Pharma-Lotto directeur sportif Herman Frison. "Jürgen Roelandts acted perfectly to let the gap grow, and everyone was surprised."

Gilbert's victory put the Belgian in the first leader's jersey and with the time bonuses factored in he leads Ciolek by nine seconds and Greipel by 11 seconds overall. The victory by Gilbert was also his first of the 2011 season, as well as the first win for Omega Pharma-Lotto this year.

A four-rider breakaway, comprised of Arturo Mora Ortiz (Caja Rural), Christian Meier (UnitedHealthcare), Ricardo Mestre (Tavira) and César Fonte (Barbot-Efapel), remained off the front for much of the 157.5km stage. The quartet built up a maximum lead of seven minutes, but splintered in the finale, with Mestre the last to be absorbed at 16km to go.

The teams of the sprinters kept the peloton together in anticipation of a bunch sprint, but Gilbert escaped in the final kilometre to take the victory.

While the breakaway quartet was unable to vie for victory in Albufeira, two members of the escape were rewarded for their efforts: César Fonte (Barbot-Efapel) claimed the sprint classification jersey while Ricardo Mestre (Tavira) leads the mountains classification.

The peloton faces the longest stage of the five-day race tomorrow, covering 186.5km from Lagoa to Lagos.

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Full Results
1Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto4:36:36
2Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quickstep Cycling Team0:00:05
3André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 2 - Cell 2
4Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 3 - Cell 2
5Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Baden Cooke (Aus) Saxo Bank SungardRow 5 - Cell 2
7John Degenkolb (Ger) HTC-HighroadRow 6 - Cell 2
8Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShackRow 7 - Cell 2
9Tony Gallopin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 8 - Cell 2
10Wout Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 10 - Cell 2
12Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 11 - Cell 2
13Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Leopard TrekRow 13 - Cell 2
15Filipe Duarte Sousa Cardoso (Por) Barbot - EfapelRow 14 - Cell 2
16Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 15 - Cell 2
17Manuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por) Team RadioShackRow 16 - Cell 2
18Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 18 - Cell 2
20Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 19 - Cell 2
21André Fernando Santos Martins Cardoso (Por) TaviraRow 20 - Cell 2
22Anthony Ravard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 21 - Cell 2
23Allan Davis (Aus) Pro Team AstanaRow 22 - Cell 2
24Stephen Cummings (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 23 - Cell 2
25Sergio Ferreira Sousa (Por) Barbot - EfapelRow 24 - Cell 2
26Raul Alarcon Garcia (Spa) Barbot - EfapelRow 25 - Cell 2
27Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 26 - Cell 2
28Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank SungardRow 27 - Cell 2
29Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 28 - Cell 2
30Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 29 - Cell 2
31Tejay Van Garderen (USA) HTC-HighroadRow 30 - Cell 2
32Simon Gerrans (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 31 - Cell 2
33Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Pro Team AstanaRow 32 - Cell 2
34Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-HighroadRow 33 - Cell 2
35Grégory Rast (Swi) Team RadioShackRow 34 - Cell 2
36Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 35 - Cell 2
37Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 36 - Cell 2
38Michael Barry (Can) Sky ProcyclingRow 37 - Cell 2
39José Herrada Lopez (Spa) Caja RuralRow 38 - Cell 2
40Adam Hansen (Aus) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 39 - Cell 2
41Santiago Perez Fernandez (Spa) Barbot - EfapelRow 40 - Cell 2
42Peter Velits (Svk) HTC-HighroadRow 41 - Cell 2
43Francesco Reda (Ita) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Rémy Di Gregorio (Fra) Pro Team AstanaRow 43 - Cell 2
45Greg Henderson (NZl) Sky ProcyclingRow 44 - Cell 2
46Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Pro Team AstanaRow 45 - Cell 2
47Bruno Pires (Por) Leopard TrekRow 46 - Cell 2
48Sander Armee (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 47 - Cell 2
49Henrique Casimiro (Por) TaviraRow 48 - Cell 2
50Alejandro Marque Porto (Spa) OndaRow 49 - Cell 2
51Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 50 - Cell 2
52Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 51 - Cell 2
53Tiago Machado (Por) Team RadioShack0:00:12
54Rory Sutherland (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro CyclingRow 53 - Cell 2
55Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Leopard TrekRow 54 - Cell 2
56Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Leopard TrekRow 55 - Cell 2
57Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 56 - Cell 2
58Delio Fernandez Cruz (Spa) OndaRow 57 - Cell 2
59Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 58 - Cell 2
60Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 59 - Cell 2
61Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 60 - Cell 2
62Tristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 61 - Cell 2
63Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 62 - Cell 2
64David Da Silva Livramento (Por) TaviraRow 63 - Cell 2
65Martin Velits (Svk) HTC-HighroadRow 64 - Cell 2
66Serge Pauwels (Bel) Sky ProcyclingRow 65 - Cell 2
67Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 66 - Cell 2
68Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 67 - Cell 2
69Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) HTC-HighroadRow 68 - Cell 2
70Gustav Larsson (Swe) Saxo Bank SungardRow 69 - Cell 2
71Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
72Johan Coenen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 71 - Cell 2
73Sergey Renev (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 72 - Cell 2
74Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 73 - Cell 2
75Kristof Vandewalle (Bel) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 74 - Cell 2
76Kjell Carlström (Fin) Sky ProcyclingRow 75 - Cell 2
77Edgar Miguel Lemos Pinto (Por) LA - AntarteRow 76 - Cell 2
78Dominique Cornu (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 77 - Cell 2
79Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 78 - Cell 2
80Frantisek Rabon (Cze) HTC-HighroadRow 79 - Cell 2
81Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Saxo Bank SungardRow 80 - Cell 2
82Alexsandr Dyachenko (Kaz) Pro Team AstanaRow 81 - Cell 2
83Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Team RadioShack0:00:24
84Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team0:00:26
85Hernani Broco (Por) LA - Antarte0:00:29
86Sergio Miguel Vieira Ribeiro (Por) Barbot - EfapelRow 85 - Cell 2
87Samuel José Rodrigues Caldeira (Por) TaviraRow 86 - Cell 2
88Rui Miguel Sousa Barbosa (Por) Barbot - EfapelRow 87 - Cell 2
89Ricardo Vilela (Por) OndaRow 88 - Cell 2
90Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Pro Team AstanaRow 89 - Cell 2
91Bert Grabsch (Ger) HTC-HighroadRow 90 - Cell 2
92Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 91 - Cell 2
93Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 92 - Cell 2
94Jesse Sergent (NZl) Team RadioShackRow 93 - Cell 2
95Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 94 - Cell 2
96Robert Wagner (Ger) Leopard TrekRow 95 - Cell 2
97Thomas Danielson (USA) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 96 - Cell 2
98Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 97 - Cell 2
99Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 98 - Cell 2
100Hugo Sabido (Por) LA - Antarte0:00:12
101Marek Rutkiewicz (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:00:45
102Alberto Morras Fernandez (Spa) OndaRow 101 - Cell 2
103Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Team RadioShack0:00:48
104José Joao Pimenta Costa Mendes (Por) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 103 - Cell 2
105Daniel Mestre (Por) TaviraRow 104 - Cell 2
106Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Saxo Bank SungardRow 105 - Cell 2
107Wouter Mol (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 106 - Cell 2
108Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Saxo Bank SungardRow 107 - Cell 2
109Juan José Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank SungardRow 108 - Cell 2
110Ruben Martinez (Spa) Caja RuralRow 109 - Cell 2
111Kevin Ista (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 110 - Cell 2
112Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La MondialeRow 111 - Cell 2
113Michael Mørkøv (Den) Saxo Bank SungardRow 112 - Cell 2
114Martin Mortensen (Den) Leopard TrekRow 113 - Cell 2
115Daniel Alexandre Freitas (Por) Barbot - Efapel0:01:02
116Christian Meier (Can) UnitedHealthcare Pro CyclingRow 115 - Cell 2
117Julien Fouchard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 116 - Cell 2
118Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale0:01:14
119Bruno Matos Sancho (Por) LA - AntarteRow 118 - Cell 2
120Bartlomiej Matysiak (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:01:21
121Stijn Joseph (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator0:01:26
122Brice Feillu (Fra) Leopard Trek0:01:30
123Hugo De Matos Sancho (Por) LA - Antarte0:01:34
124Amaro Antunes (Por) LA - Antarte0:01:43
125Vicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:01:44
126Helder Oliveira (Por) Onda0:01:46
127Lukasz Bodnar (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:02:00
128Luis Filipe Albino Silva (Por) TaviraRow 127 - Cell 2
129Tomas Swift Metcalfe (GBr) TaviraRow 128 - Cell 2
130Robert Förster (Ger) UnitedHealthcare Pro CyclingRow 129 - Cell 2
131Rui Vinhas (Por) LA - Antarte0:02:05
132Jos Van Emden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:02:24
133Coen Vermeltfoort (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:02:38
134Bruno Silva (Por) LA - Antarte0:02:50
135Bruno Antero Lima (Por) Onda0:02:55
136Oleg Chuzhda (Ukr) Caja RuralRow 135 - Cell 2
137Víctor De La Parte (Spa) Caja RuralRow 136 - Cell 2
138Ion Pardo Abarzuza (Spa) OndaRow 137 - Cell 2
139Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 138 - Cell 2
140Matti Breschel (Den) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 139 - Cell 2
141Frederik Willems (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 140 - Cell 2
142Nico Sijmens (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 141 - Cell 2
143Nelson Oliveira (Spa) Team RadioShackRow 142 - Cell 2
144Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 143 - Cell 2
145Bradley White (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro CyclingRow 144 - Cell 2
146Fabricio Ferrari (Uru) Caja RuralRow 145 - Cell 2
147Joaquin Sobrino (Spa) Caja RuralRow 146 - Cell 2
148Daniel Eduardo Moreira Silva (Por) OndaRow 147 - Cell 2
149Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 148 - Cell 2
150Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 149 - Cell 2
151William Clarke (Aus) Leopard Trek0:03:18
152Steven Van Vooren (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 151 - Cell 2
153David Zabriskie (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo0:04:49
154David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 153 - Cell 2
155Arturo Mora Ortiz (Spa) Caja RuralRow 154 - Cell 2
156Ricardo Mestre (Por) Tavira0:05:07
157Charles Wegelius (GBr) UnitedHealthcare Pro CyclingRow 156 - Cell 2
158Dario David Cioni (Ita) Sky ProcyclingRow 157 - Cell 2
159Adrian Honkisz (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 158 - Cell 2
160César Fonte (Por) Barbot - EfapelRow 159 - Cell 2
161Blazej Janiaczyk (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 160 - Cell 2
162Morgan Schmitt (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro CyclingRow 161 - Cell 2
163Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 162 - Cell 2
164Boy Van Poppel (Ned) UnitedHealthcare Pro CyclingRow 163 - Cell 2
165Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Pro CyclingRow 164 - Cell 2
HDJacek Morajko (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice0:38:34
DNFGarikoitz Bravo Oiarbide (Spa) Caja RuralRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFNiki Terpstra (Ned) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 167 - Cell 2
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Points
1Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto25pts
2Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quickstep Cycling Team20Row 1 - Cell 3
3André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto16Row 2 - Cell 3
4Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Garmin-Cervelo13Row 3 - Cell 3
5Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team10Row 4 - Cell 3
6Baden Cooke (Aus) Saxo Bank Sungard8Row 5 - Cell 3
7John Degenkolb (Ger) HTC-Highroad6Row 6 - Cell 3
8Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack4Row 7 - Cell 3
9Tony Gallopin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne2Row 8 - Cell 3
10Wout Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team1Row 9 - Cell 3
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Sprint 1 - Passegueiro, 65.8km
1Arturo Mora Ortiz (Spa) Caja Rural3pts
2César Fonte (Por) Barbot - Efapel2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Christian Meier (Can) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 2 - Malhäo, 104.9km
1César Fonte (Por) Barbot - Efapel3pts
2Ricardo Mestre (Por) Tavira2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Christian Meier (Can) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Mountain 1 - (Cat. 3) 92km
1Ricardo Mestre (Por) Tavira5pts
2Christian Meier (Can) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling3Row 1 - Cell 3
3César Fonte (Por) Barbot - Efapel1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Mountain 2 - (Cat. 3) 127.4km
1Ricardo Mestre (Por) Tavira5pts
2César Fonte (Por) Barbot - Efapel3Row 1 - Cell 3
3David Da Silva Livramento (Por) Tavira1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Teams
1Omega Pharma-Lotto13:49:58
2Rabobank Cycling Team0:00:05
3Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Team RadioShackRow 3 - Cell 2
5Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Barbot-EfapelRow 5 - Cell 2
7Team Garmin-CerveloRow 6 - Cell 2
8HTC-HighroadRow 7 - Cell 2
9Sky ProcyclingRow 8 - Cell 2
10Pro Team AstanaRow 9 - Cell 2
11Cofidis, Credit En Ligne0:00:12
12Saxo Bank SungardRow 11 - Cell 2
13Leopard TrekRow 12 - Cell 2
14Tavira - PrioRow 13 - Cell 2
15Topsport Vlaanderen-MercatorRow 14 - Cell 2
16AG2R La Mondiale0:00:19
17Onda0:00:36
18LA -Antarte0:00:43
19CCC Polsat Polkowice0:01:52
20UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling0:03:04
21Caja Rural0:03:38
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General classification after stage 1
1Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto4:36:26
2Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quickstep Cycling Team