09 May 2021
Hayter second in Algarve as Pidcock impresses in Albstadt
Related riders
Ethan Hayter
Tom Pidcock
Volta ao Algarve - Stage 5 » Albufeira › Malhão, 170.1km UCI Mountainbike World Cup - Round 1, Albstadt
Ethan Hayter battled all the way to the finish line on the Alto do Malhao but was forced to settle for second at the Volta ao Algarve.
The young Brit dug deep on the final climb but was unable to shake off the effects of a hard crash 24 hours earlier. With his 12-second advantage slipping away, the Grenadier eventually finished 10th on the stage. That result saw Joao Rodriguez (W52/FC Porto) take second on the day but crucially secure the overall victory by just nine seconds.
Second still represents a fantastic result for Hayter, who had stormed into the lead courtesy of a win on stage two. Sebastian Henao tried to help his teammate in the final kilometres and also finished eighth overall.
The young Brit dug deep on the final climb but was unable to shake off the effects of a hard crash 24 hours earlier. With his 12-second advantage slipping away, the Grenadier eventually finished 10th on the stage. That result saw Joao Rodriguez (W52/FC Porto) take second on the day but crucially secure the overall victory by just nine seconds.
Second still represents a fantastic result for Hayter, who had stormed into the lead courtesy of a win on stage two. Sebastian Henao tried to help his teammate in the final kilometres and also finished eighth overall.
Photo: srsuntour_inc / whyex_gmbh / remyvroonen
Sunday also saw Tom Pidcock put in an incredible ride as he took on his first UCI Mountainbike World Cup at the elite level, finishing fifth.
The Brit was forced to battle through from an 11th row start and 93rd position, but quickly began making up places, and was 25th after just one lap.
Pidcock's pre-race target was a top-16 finish, which will allow him to take part in the short track qualifying race at the next round in the Czech Republic.
By the second lap he was already in 14th, and touched the front heading on to the third lap after overtaking early pace-setter Mathieu van der Poel.
The Brit was forced to battle through from an 11th row start and 93rd position, but quickly began making up places, and was 25th after just one lap.
Pidcock's pre-race target was a top-16 finish, which will allow him to take part in the short track qualifying race at the next round in the Czech Republic.
By the second lap he was already in 14th, and touched the front heading on to the third lap after overtaking early pace-setter Mathieu van der Poel.
Settling into a rhythm in the second half of the race, Pidcock was able to overhaul Kiwi Anton Cooper on the final lap to take an amazing fifth spot, just 29 seconds back on winner Victor Koretzky.
