18 Feb 2017
Contenders set for super Sunday
Related riders
Michal Kwiatkowski
Wout Poels
The stage is set for a tense final day in both the Ruta del Sol and the Volta ao Algarve following solid performances on Saturday to keep a host of Team Sky riders in contention.
In Andalucía, the team came home safely in the peloton after a sprint finish, leaving Wout Poels still just 21 seconds off the overall lead, with Bryan Coquard taking victory for Direct Energie on the 179km stage from La Campana to Sevilla.
In Portugal, Michal Kwiatowski remains 22” behind Algarve general classification leader Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) ahead of the final stage following Andre Greipel's photo-finish victory in the sprint on day four.
The Lotto Soudal man pipped John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo), Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) and Andre Demare (FDJ) to the line in a dramatic finale, with Kwiatkowski rolling home in 11th.
Stage four in southern Spain looked like it could be set for a breakaway win, as a small group containing Martijn Keizer (Lotto-Jumbo), Diego Rubio (Caja Rural), Jerome Cousin (Cofidis), Lukasz Owsian (CCC), Martijn Budding (Roompot) and Jens Walays (Sport Vlaanderen) escaped after 27km.
However, the final kilometres proved too tough and within the last 5km the peloton caught the dwindling group to set up Coquard’s win.
In Portugal, Michal Kwiatowski remains 22” behind Algarve general classification leader Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) ahead of the final stage following Andre Greipel's photo-finish victory in the sprint on day four.
The Lotto Soudal man pipped John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo), Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) and Andre Demare (FDJ) to the line in a dramatic finale, with Kwiatkowski rolling home in 11th.
Stage four in southern Spain looked like it could be set for a breakaway win, as a small group containing Martijn Keizer (Lotto-Jumbo), Diego Rubio (Caja Rural), Jerome Cousin (Cofidis), Lukasz Owsian (CCC), Martijn Budding (Roompot) and Jens Walays (Sport Vlaanderen) escaped after 27km.
However, the final kilometres proved too tough and within the last 5km the peloton caught the dwindling group to set up Coquard’s win.
Andre Greipel won the dramatic sprint in Portugal
Ruta del Sol overall standings:
1. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) 13:12:07
2. Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) +1"
3. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) +6"
4. Wout Poels (Team Sky) +21"
5. Diego Rosa (Team Sky) +45"
6. Mikel Landa (Team Sky) +48
Volta ao Algarve overall standings:
1. Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) 14:34:20
2. Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) 22"
3. Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar) 36"
1. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) 13:12:07
2. Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) +1"
3. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) +6"
4. Wout Poels (Team Sky) +21"
5. Diego Rosa (Team Sky) +45"
6. Mikel Landa (Team Sky) +48
Volta ao Algarve overall standings:
1. Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) 14:34:20
2. Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) 22"
3. Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar) 36"
