23 Feb 2020
Close second for Dennis
Related riders
Rohan Dennis
Volta ao Algarve - Stage five: Lagoa › Lagoa, 20.3km UAE Tour - Stage one: The Pointe › Dubai Silicon Oasis, 148km
Rohan Dennis took a close second place finish on the final day at the Volta ao Algarve.
The time trial world champion finished 10 seconds back on stage winner and overall victor Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) across the 20.3-kilometre Lagoa course.
It took until the final rider to dislodge Dennis from the hot seat, with Michal Kwiatkowski also putting in a competitive ride to take sixth place.
Geraint Thomas found himself in the mix, clocking the 12th fastest time in his first race of the season. A consistent final day helped elevate Team INEOS to victory in the team classification.
The time trial world champion finished 10 seconds back on stage winner and overall victor Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) across the 20.3-kilometre Lagoa course.
It took until the final rider to dislodge Dennis from the hot seat, with Michal Kwiatkowski also putting in a competitive ride to take sixth place.
Geraint Thomas found himself in the mix, clocking the 12th fastest time in his first race of the season. A consistent final day helped elevate Team INEOS to victory in the team classification.
Over at the UAE Tour, the seven-day stage race got under way in Dubai with a test for the sprinters. The day was all about staying out of trouble ahead of tougher tests to come, with the bunch kick eventually won by Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe).
Chris Froome came through the test without issue, making his return to competitive racing after eight months of recovery.
Reaction
- Chris Froome
“There’s still a way to go until I’m back to where I left off, but the first feelings are really good. It felt good to just have a number on, have the elbows out again and be fighting for position in the bunch. It feels good to be a bike racer again.
- Chris Froome
“There’s still a way to go until I’m back to where I left off, but the first feelings are really good. It felt good to just have a number on, have the elbows out again and be fighting for position in the bunch. It feels good to be a bike racer again.
“(This morning) I felt really excited. It was like being a neo pro again at my first race. It’s only eight months out but it feels like it’s longer. I know what condition I’m in and I’m not in winning condition. I should be in good enough condition to get through the race and do what I can for the team. I can’t set my expectations too high but just being here is a big goal for me.”
