Volta ao Algarve: Greipel wins final stage

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Lotto Soudal’s André Greipel took his first win of the season in the stage 5 bunch sprint to close out the 2015 Volta ao Algarve on Sunday. He crossed the finish line in the Portuguese town of Vilamoura ahead of runner-up Tom van Asbroeck (Lotto NL-Jumbo) and Rudiger Selig (Katusha), who moved up into third place after race officials relegated Raymond Kreder (Team Roompot).

The Briton moved into the race lead following his stage 2 win in Monchique and extended his lead in the stage 3 time trial from Vila do Bispo to Cape St. Vincent. Team Sky showed impressive solidarity in the hilly fourth stage, particularly Richie Porte who protected Thomas’ overall race lead the through final three ascents and then went on to take the stage win himself atop Malhão.

The final stage of the Volta ao Algarve wasn’t a breeze as the riders were tasked with two intermediate sprints; the first at the 30.5km mark in Almodovar and the second at the 123km mark in Ferreiaras. In between, at 61km into the race, there was one last mountain pass in Ameixial, however, the category 3 ascent wasn’t daunting enough to separate the sprinters from the field and the race was destined to come down to a bunch kick.

A break of three riders set off just six kilometres into the stage with Pawel Bernas (ActiveJet), Diego Rubio (Efapel) and Imanol Estevez (Murias Taldea). Heiner Parra (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) made his way across to the move, and since none of the riders were a threat to the overall classification, the peloton led by Team Sky gifted them some leeway.

Bernas picked up full points in the first intermediate sprint in Almodovar ahead of Estevez and Rubio. Outside of their rivalry in the sprint, they worked very well together as they headed toward the day’s climb over Ameixial, gaining a four-minute advantage.

The quartet made it over the day’s main climb with Estevez picking up the mountain points at the top, however, their gap had been reduced by half and only continued to drop as the field crested the climb and barrelled down the other side until the peloton was all back together.

Another breakaway of three riders emerged, again with Bernas, and new recruits Luis Mas (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Beñat Txoperena (Murias Taldea). Bernas picked up his second set of intermediate sprint points in Ferreiras.

Their gap hovered at a mere 48 seconds, allowing Micael Isidoro (Louletano-Ray Just Energy), David de la Fuente (Efapel), and later, Adriano Malori and Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar) to bridge across.

With a gap of only 35 seconds and a field still full of sprinters eager to have their chance at a stage sprint, it was inevitable that the breakaway was doomed and a bunch kick was going to take place in Vilamoura.

Greipel keyed off of his Lotto Soudal teammates in the final kilometres to take his first win of the season. While Team Sky celebrated their overall win with Thomas among the bunch at the finish line.

"It’s always a nice feeling to get that first win of the season," Greipel said. "The team set up the sprint perfectly for me. They did a great job all day long. A lot of Portuguese teams tried to get in the breakaway. The situation changed a few times, at the end seven riders were in front.

"We were worried that if they would all work together, they could stay ahead until the finish. Sean De Bie and Stig Broeckx controlled the breakaway. We knew the finish area, which really suited us. We had a plan and it worked out well."

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