Primoz Roglic wins the Volta ao Algarve
Primoz Roglic won the Volta ao Algarve overall classification today in Portugal. The Slovenian of team LottoNL-Jumbo finished fifth on the final climb, just behind his biggest challenger Michal Kwiatkowski.
"We did it perfectly, at the beginning of the race we controlled the pack and on the climb, it was up to me," said Roglic, who called it a team win. "In the final, I had three team-mates with me, but on the climb, it was every man for himself."
On the final climb, the Alto de Malhão, the peloton caught the lead group and it was a battle between the GC riders. Kwiatkowski attacked, but Roglic followed. In the last hundred meters, Portuguese Manuel Antunes attacked and took the stage win.
Kwiatkowski placed fourth with Roglic in his wheel. Roglic retained 22-second lead and gave the main sponsors, Lotto, Jumbo and BrandLoyalty their second overall classification victory.
"It was tough, but it was for everyone,” he continued. “We fought, but we did it."
Roglic will celebrate and tomorrow start preparing for Strade Bianche and the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race. He hopes to win again soon, especially in Tirreno-Adriatico.
"It's wait and see what the future brings. I want to be good in the time trials, but also in the mountains. I hope to win more races like this one."
Roosen in the breakaway
A large breakaway animated the final day in Portugal. Team LottoNL-Jumbo counted on Timo Roosen. When the climb began, the breakaway fell apart and Roosen drifted back to the peloton, where he could help in the final.
"It was easier today than we previously thought,” Sports Director Maassen said. “Everything went as planned or even better.
"In the beginning of the race, the peloton broke into echelons, which of course was not detrimental to our team. We controlled the race in the first part of the stage.
"Another important objective was to be in the breakaway, which could be useful in the final. Once dropped, he helped Primoz. Tom Leezer and Lars Boom did so before the climb. It was a team effort."
"We did it perfectly, at the beginning of the race we controlled the pack and on the climb, it was up to me," said Roglic, who called it a team win. "In the final, I had three team-mates with me, but on the climb, it was every man for himself."
On the final climb, the Alto de Malhão, the peloton caught the lead group and it was a battle between the GC riders. Kwiatkowski attacked, but Roglic followed. In the last hundred meters, Portuguese Manuel Antunes attacked and took the stage win.
Kwiatkowski placed fourth with Roglic in his wheel. Roglic retained 22-second lead and gave the main sponsors, Lotto, Jumbo and BrandLoyalty their second overall classification victory.
"It was tough, but it was for everyone,” he continued. “We fought, but we did it."
Roglic will celebrate and tomorrow start preparing for Strade Bianche and the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race. He hopes to win again soon, especially in Tirreno-Adriatico.
"It's wait and see what the future brings. I want to be good in the time trials, but also in the mountains. I hope to win more races like this one."
Roosen in the breakaway
A large breakaway animated the final day in Portugal. Team LottoNL-Jumbo counted on Timo Roosen. When the climb began, the breakaway fell apart and Roosen drifted back to the peloton, where he could help in the final.
"It was easier today than we previously thought,” Sports Director Maassen said. “Everything went as planned or even better.
"In the beginning of the race, the peloton broke into echelons, which of course was not detrimental to our team. We controlled the race in the first part of the stage.
"Another important objective was to be in the breakaway, which could be useful in the final. Once dropped, he helped Primoz. Tom Leezer and Lars Boom did so before the climb. It was a team effort."
