Evenepoel storms to Volta ao Algarve victory

Geoghegan Hart completes first race back after injury as time trial world champion comes out on top in Portugal, reports Tom Thewlis

- Tom Thewlis, Adam Becket

Remco Evenepoel (SoudalQuick Step) wrapped up overall victory at the Volta ao Algarve last weekend as Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) also opened his account for the season.

Evenepoel’s impressive stage-four time trial win, his first as time trial world champion, proved to be enough to secure his third overall title at the Portuguese stage race.

However, he was made to work for it on the final stage, which finished atop the punishing Alto do Malhão climb. Van Aert launched a huge breakaway attack which momentarily appeared to place Evenepoel’s overall lead in jeopardy.

Matters were made worse for Evenepoel when an issue with his bike forced him to ride the final climb in his big chainring. Nevertheless, van Aert was eventually caught and Evenepoel took second on the stage behind Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) to wrap up the overall title.

“I had to do it in my 54-tooth chainring, even though I prefer to climb on a high cadence. That cost me the energy I needed in the sprint, it killed my legs a bit,” Evenepoel said.