18 Feb 2023
Pidcock sprints to Alto do Malhão victory
Related riders
Tom Pidcock
Volta ao Algarve stage four: Albufeira › Alto do Malhão, 177.9km.
Tom Pidcock powered to an impressive victory on the queen stage of the Volta ao Algarve to move into the overall race lead.
Pidcock timed his uphill sprint atop Alto do Malhão to perfection, first increasing the pace to reduce the GC group before putting in a second, more explosive acceleration in the final kilometre.
The result means the Yorkshireman heads into the final stage time trial with a five second advantage, with teammates Dani Martinez and Filippo Ganna also within touching distance of the top step of the podium.
Pidcock timed his uphill sprint atop Alto do Malhão to perfection, first increasing the pace to reduce the GC group before putting in a second, more explosive acceleration in the final kilometre.
The result means the Yorkshireman heads into the final stage time trial with a five second advantage, with teammates Dani Martinez and Filippo Ganna also within touching distance of the top step of the podium.
Pidcock attacking on the Alto do Malhão
Earlier, the Grenadiers had combined well on the undulating terrain as the early break was caught, causing counter attacks from the bunch.
However, the peloton weren't to be denied a GC showdown, with several teams including the INEOS Grenadiers pushing the pace on the front, with Michal Kwiatkowski and Laurens de Plus ensuring the team were well-positioned and conserving energy.
An untimely puncture for Thymen Arensman with 11 kilometres remaining ruled him out of the final climb, but De Plus and Jonathan Castroviejo worked well to help place the trio of Ganna, Martinez and Pidcock well on the Alto do Malhão.
Pidcock was able to follow the early attacks from the lead group, weathered the storm, then tested the legs of his rivals with a short acceleration which created a lead group of five. The Brit was then one of the only riders able to respond to Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates), whose powerful attack split the lead group again.
The Grenadier then bided his time, waited for Almeida to slow slightly, before launching his own decisive sprint, which nobody could follow, to seal a memorable victory and move into the race lead.
However, the peloton weren't to be denied a GC showdown, with several teams including the INEOS Grenadiers pushing the pace on the front, with Michal Kwiatkowski and Laurens de Plus ensuring the team were well-positioned and conserving energy.
An untimely puncture for Thymen Arensman with 11 kilometres remaining ruled him out of the final climb, but De Plus and Jonathan Castroviejo worked well to help place the trio of Ganna, Martinez and Pidcock well on the Alto do Malhão.
Pidcock was able to follow the early attacks from the lead group, weathered the storm, then tested the legs of his rivals with a short acceleration which created a lead group of five. The Brit was then one of the only riders able to respond to Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates), whose powerful attack split the lead group again.
The Grenadier then bided his time, waited for Almeida to slow slightly, before launching his own decisive sprint, which nobody could follow, to seal a memorable victory and move into the race lead.
Reaction
Tom Pidcock
"It feels really good, we’ve had two stages that we could have won, but today I wanted to make sure we got it right.
Tom Pidcock
"It feels really good, we’ve had two stages that we could have won, but today I wanted to make sure we got it right.
"I attacked and went all in, it was a little further than I thought it was, so I thought someone might be coming but they weren’t. Tomorrow it’ll just be about going full gas in the final TT."
