20 Feb 2019
Poels home first in hectic finale
Related riders
Eddie Dunbar
Wout Poels
Volta ao Algarve stage one, Portimão - Lagos, 199.1km
Wout Poels led Team Sky home on a tough opening stage of Volta ao Algarve which saw a large crash dominate the closing stages.
Eddie Dunbar was the worst affected of four Team Sky riders who were involved in a high-speed crash with seven kilometres to go as he suffered head and shoulder injuries in the 80-rider incident.
Poels, Luke Rowe and David de la Cruz were the only Team Sky riders not to go down and they finished the stage in the front group, with Fabio Jakobsen (Deceunick-Quick Step) picking up the victory.
Tao Geoghegan Hart, Ian Stannard and Dylan van Baarle were all able to continue riding and finished in following groups.
Eddie Dunbar was the worst affected of four Team Sky riders who were involved in a high-speed crash with seven kilometres to go as he suffered head and shoulder injuries in the 80-rider incident.
Poels, Luke Rowe and David de la Cruz were the only Team Sky riders not to go down and they finished the stage in the front group, with Fabio Jakobsen (Deceunick-Quick Step) picking up the victory.
Tao Geoghegan Hart, Ian Stannard and Dylan van Baarle were all able to continue riding and finished in following groups.
Reaction
Dr Richard Usher:
“Eddie went down with all the other in a large crash, he reckoned there could have been up to 80 rider in there, and four of our riders went down
Dr Richard Usher:
“Eddie went down with all the other in a large crash, he reckoned there could have been up to 80 rider in there, and four of our riders went down
“Eddie had a bang on the head, but he’s just got a very painful left shoulder and it looks like it may be dislocated.
“He’s gone off to hospital for some X-rays and we’ll take it from there.
"Fortunately the others were all able to finish and just had cuts and bruises."
"Fortunately the others were all able to finish and just had cuts and bruises."
Social media reaction
Key moment: With sprint trains lining up and the pace increasing, the large crash with seven kilometres to go decimated the peloton and resulted in many riders losing rime as well as injuries being sustained.
Team Sky being presented at the start of stage one
Stage one result
1. Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck - Quick Step) 4:52:59
2. Arnaud Demare (Groupama - FDJ) s.t.
3. Pascal Ackermann (Bora - Hansgrohe) s.t.
4. Simone Consoni (UAE-Team Emirates) s.t.
5. Jasper De Buyst (Lotto Soudal) s.t.
11. Wout Poels (Team Sky) s.t.
1. Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck - Quick Step) 4:52:59
2. Arnaud Demare (Groupama - FDJ) s.t.
3. Pascal Ackermann (Bora - Hansgrohe) s.t.
4. Simone Consoni (UAE-Team Emirates) s.t.
5. Jasper De Buyst (Lotto Soudal) s.t.
11. Wout Poels (Team Sky) s.t.
