Volta ao Algarve (final report)
Duo move from Movistar Team battles against the bunch, gets caught with just 400m to the finish in Vilamoura. Fernández (9th), Izagirre (10th) confirm overall top-ten finishes
Movistar Team added some sauce to the 184km closing stage of the 41st Volta ao Algarve, from Almodovar to Vilamoura, with two of the men who already had a main role in the Blues' good image through the last few days. Jonathan Castroviejo and Adriano Malori seeked for a late move they started as a suo with 30km from the finish, reaching the head as five others riders were battling into the second relevant break of the day against the sprinters' squads.
Despite their attempt still conserved around twenty seconds of advantage with 4km from the end, the fast rouleurs aborted their escape with 400m from the line. André Greipel (LTS) claimed the day's honours while Geraint Thomas (SKY) confirmed his GC victory, with Rubén Fernández and 9th and Ion Izagirre in 10th. Only the victory was missing for the group directed by José Luis Jaimerena, really courageous eon Saturday's Malhao showdown and close to success with Malori's fantastic ITT on Friday.