Ciolek wins sprint in Algarve stage 4

Gerald Ciolek (Omega Pharma - Quickstep) won the penultimate stage of the Volta ao Algarve on Saturday. His teammate Matteo Trentin cruised in for second while Heinrich Haussler (Team Garmin - Barracuda) was third in the 186km stage.

"This is an incredible feeling," Ciolek said. "It's been a long time without a victory for me."

After yesterday's stage seemed to temporarily settle the GC before tomorrow's final stage, an individual time trial, the day seemed ripe for breakaways. A group of 10 riders got off the front 25km into the hilly terrain from Vilamoura to Tavira. Team Saxo Bank's Jesus Hernandez was the best placed GC rider in the group and a temporary leader on the road, but eventually Team Sky chased the break down as it worked to defend the lead of its Richie Porte.

Sky's efforts were successful, and the race ended with a bunch sprint.

"The sprint was fantastic because the team controlled the race in every moment from the beginning," Ciolek said after his victory. "Then the final with the entire team - it's unbelievable how all the riders know their jobs really well, and their position. Everyone knows what they have to do at whichever moment of the race. I don't want to say it was easy to win, but it was a big help to have riders like these together. In the last kilometer, I think it was Tony who pulled the sprint. Then there was a roundabout at about 450 meters from the finish. At that time I asked Matteo to pull for my sprint and he did it perfectly."

Porte remains in the lead going into tomorrow's final stage, a 25.8km individual TT.

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