– February 21, 2022
Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team) won his second Volta ao Algarve last weekend, repeating his 2020 victory and cementing his name in the competition’s history as one of the few cyclists to win it twice.
Despite finishing 5th in the last stage on Sunday, his dominant performance in Saturday’s time trial gave him the lead he needed to be crowned the overall winner.
“I wanted to come back and do the same thing I did two years ago and I’m glad I did. I knew that this week the time trial was the most important thing. Yesterday (Saturday) I gave everything, and today (Sunday) I still felt (the effort) in my legs. But as we approached the last climb, Louis (Vervaeke) and other teammates did a great job,” said Evenepoel.
Colombian Sergio Higuita (Bora-Hansgrohe) won the final stage – a 173km ride from Lagoa to Malhão in Loulé – after having competed for the win in the second stage, only to crash with the finish line in sight. This time everything went well for the South American cyclist.
“First of all, I want to dedicate this victory to the great-grandmother of my girlfriend, who died the day I fell. To have the possibility of winning the stage, falling, arriving at the hotel and receiving this bad news… It’s a big blow. Today (Sunday) we left for the stage motivated to give our best and we got this victory. The team had difficult days in the Algarve. One of us fell and broke his collarbone, another got sick, but today we won,” said Higuita.
Here’s the top-10 overall standings:
1. Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team – Belgium): 19:35:03
2. Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates – UAE): + 1:17
3. Daniel Martinez (INEOS Grenadiers – UK): +1:21
4. Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers): +1:39
5. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ – France): +2:00
6. Tobias S. Foss (Jumbo-Visma – Netherlands): +2:04
7. Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ): +2:16
8. Thibaut Guernalec (Team Arkea-Samsic – France): +2:41
9. Sven Erik Bystrom (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux – Belgium): +3:13
10. Dylan Van Baarle (INEOS Grenadiers): +3:38
Last year, the Volta ao Algarve was won by the region’s very own João Rodrigues.
Source: Algarve Resident Newspaper
