Volta ao Algarve (st. 2)

Fine 5th place for Spaniard at first mountain-top finish in Portugal; ITT set to open time gaps on Friday.

Jaime Rosón (Movistar Team) was really close to bringing his new team a maiden success on the slopes of the Alto da Fóia, first of two mountain finishes in this week’s 44th Volta ao Algarve, run in southern Portugal through Sunday.

The Zamora native took 5th place behind winner Michal Kwiatkowski (SKY), following a series of attacks inside the final 2km of a long, gentle ascent with no room for sustained pace changes. Rosón reached down a move from Vasil Kiryienka (SKY), leading solo for most of the ascent, and jumped off the front again into the final 800 meters with Belgian Pieter Serry (QST).

Caught by more explosive riders, the Spaniard was the last of five riders inside a top split which Nelson Oliveira (+10″) tried to make. The Portuguese time trial specialist will have a chance to bounced back at Friday’s 20km ITT in and around Lagoa, where Rosón will start as 2nd overall thanks to the position countback.

The day’s bad news came from a setback for Eduardo Sepúlveda, who crashed during the stage and could not contest the win (+48″). The blows and bruises he suffered, most notably to his hand, are only minor and won’t compromise his continuity in the race.

Picture (c): Roberto Bettini / BettiniPhoto.net