Volta ao Algarve (st. 1)
7th place for young Spaniard into Albufeira sprint on stage one of a demanding Volta ao Algarve; Blues stay calm all day
The 41st edition of the Volta ao Algarve started off on Wednesday with its most generous route, the 166km from Lagos to Albufeira not offering much difficuly to a Movistar Team which set one its young reference, Jesús Herrada, at the fore. The former Spanish road champion took 7th place into a sprint controlled by Etixx-Quick Step, with Gianni Meersman claiming the first yellow jersey.
The battle for the GC will start on Thursday, with the Monchique climb just next to the finish. Together with the 19km ITT to Sagres on Friday and the tough Alto do Malhao hill climb on Saturday, the squad directed by José Luis Jaimerena will have three nice chances to show its potential this week.