Cycling: Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) won the opening stage of the Volta ao Algarve. In the sprint of a severely decimated field, he won ahead of Arnaud Démare (Groupama - FDJ) and Pascal Ackermann (Bora - hansgrohe). Before that, a mass fall caused gaps and thus large gaps in the overall standings.
Pascal Ackermann misses his second win of the season
Pascal Ackermann (Bora – hansgrohe) was up there again. However, it shouldn't be enough for the next win at the Volta ao Algarve today. The German champion had to miss a step in the sprint and thereby lost the rear wheel of the eventual winner Fabio Jacobsen (Deceuninck - Quick Step). The French was second Arnaud Demare (Groupama – FDJ). Ultimately, however, they are all among the lucky ones today. Shortly before reaching the coastal town in the western Algarve, there was a mass fall. More than two-thirds were held up, including the sprinters Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo – Visma) and John Degenkolb (Trek – Segafredo). However, the drivers remaining at the front were not deterred by this and continued their preparations for the sprint unchecked.
Many co-favorites lose time - including Patrick Konrad
Due to the resulting gaps, the mass fall also has an impact on the overall ranking. Quite a few ambitious drivers will go into the second stage tomorrow with a deficit. Among other things, however, David of the Cross (Sky), Wout poels (Sky), Enric Mas Nicolau (Deceuninck – Quick Step), Sam Oomen (Sunweb) and Soren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb) counted with the winning time. In this tour, the German-speaking hopes rested mainly on the shoulders of Patrick Conrad (Bora – hansgrohe). But the Austrian already had to accept a big deficit due to the mass fall today.
The decision falls again at the Alto do Malhão
The Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta 2019 started in Portimão at noon today. After 199,1 kilometers, the pros raced across the finish line in Lagos. Previously, a breakaway group could never really break away. About 60 kilometers before the finish, he failed himself "pair time trial" from Sergio Paulino (Efapel) and Bruno silva (Efapel). About 35 kilometers later, they too were caught again. Above all, the German team Bora - hansgrohe kept the pace high and thus forced the mass sprint. It's no wonder that the sprinter teams didn't want to miss this opportunity today. After all, this mountainous tour in Portugal only has a flat stage on Saturday. Tomorrow it will be hilly before a time trial has to be completed on Friday. The decision is only made on the final day, when it goes up the Alto do Malhão.
🇳🇱@FabioJakobsen of 🇧🇪@deceuninck_qst wins stage 1 of 🇵🇹@VAlgarve2019 # VAlgarve19 pic.twitter.com/41Sn8p2XrI
- World Cycling Stats (@wcsbike) 20. February 2019
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