Volta ao Algarve 2024 - 2.Pro (February 14-18)

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Impressive sprint by Martinez!

 

[Salvarani]

Impressive beating Remco there, who started the sprint very early.

 

[RedheadDane]

Martinez partying like it's 202

Damn, he's old!

 

[Elos Anjos]

I remember several users joking about Martinez when I said he's a top notch quality rider, maybe above Sepp Kuss.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Last year he had to work for his teammates on Foia, i think he could have won then as well. Luckily he was able to set things straight with the TT and take GC.

 

[repre]

Unexpected from Dani. He always had good punch, but didn't think he could outsprint Remco in his current form. Great win!

 

[Lequack]

Martinez! What a ride.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1758174666038890934

View: https://twitter.com/Noticiclismo1/status/1758174666038890934?s=20

 

[red_flanders]

I remember several users joking about Martinez when I said he's a top notch quality rider, maybe above Sepp Kuss.

Well whatever the case there, I don't think winning in Feb on a relatively minor climb establishes that one way or another. And "top notch quality" is subjective, so arguers are gonna argue...

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Nice to see unfree Landa
working out.
(only lost 13s)

 

[tobydawq]

Also, a bit of a pity that Christen burned his matches with that attack. Otherwise, he might have done a fair bit better. Foia is not really a climb where you can attack, unfortunately.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

So, with the final two stages coming up, this is already a 2-man battle between Martinez and Evenepoel. Martinez needs to put extra time into Evenepoel on Malhao, but it's a climb that suits him better than Evenepoel i think. If he takes a few seconds + the bonis there as well, might have 20 seconds on Evenepoel before the TT... probably not enough, but it could be close. I think all other GC candidates are out for the win.

 

[repre]

Also, a bit of a pity that Christen burned his matches with that attack. Otherwise, he might have done a fair bit better. Foia is not really a climb where you can attack, unfortunately.

Shoot for glory! For young man it doesn't mean much to finish 10th or 12th, but if you can make statement with the win it would be huge! But i guess you care about your CQ team, so i understand dissapointment))

 

[TourOfSardinia]

 

[Berflamand]

So, with the final two stages coming up, this is already a 2-man battle between Martinez and Evenepoel. Martinez needs to put extra time into Evenepoel on Malhao, but it's a climb that suits him better than Evenepoel i think. If he takes a few seconds + the bonis there as well, might have 20 seconds on Evenepoel before the TT... probably not enough, but it could be close. I think all other GC candidates are out for the win.

Malhao is on the last day, after the TT. So if Evenepoel manages to take some time on Martinez in the TT there's only one wheel he has to focus on in the last stage.

 

[red_flanders]

What are the finishing bonuses in this race?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

GC

Rnk	Prev	▼▲	Rider	Team	UCI		Time
1	82	▲81	MARTÍNEZ Daniel Felipe	BORA - hansgrohe	5	10″	9:32:14
2	91	▲89	EVENEPOEL Remco	Soudal - Quick Step		6″	0:04
3	88	▲85	KUSS Sepp	Team Visma | Lease a Bike		4″	0:12
4	119	▲115	HIGUITA Sergio	BORA - hansgrohe			0:16
5	43	▲38	TRATNIK Jan	Team Visma | Lease a Bike			0:18
6	84	▲78	GEOGHEGAN HART Tao	Lidl - Trek			,,
7	90	▲83	PIDCOCK Thomas	INEOS Grenadiers			,,
8	50	▲42	ARENSMAN Thymen	INEOS Grenadiers			0:23
9	97	▲88	LANDA Mikel	Soudal - Quick Step			,,
10	94	▲84	SCARONI Christian	Astana Qazaqstan Team			0:28

What are the finishing bonuses in this race?

10, 6, 4

 

[ingsve]

Del Toro completely gave up once he let go. Finished 62nd 6 minutes down, behind lots of people who let go far sooner than him.

 

[pastronef]

great to see Tao back, and on form. it bodes well for the rest of the season and it seems his recovery is 100%. grande Tao sempre

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

What are the finishing bonuses in this race?

10-6-4

 

[tobydawq]

Shoot for glory! For young man it doesn't mean much to finish 10th or 12th, but if you can make statement with the win it would be huge! But i guess you care about your CQ team, so i understand dissapointment))

It's not 10th or 12th, more like 3rd or 15th.

But yes, I understand the decision.

 

[houtdffan]

So, with the final two stages coming up, this is already a 2-man battle between Martinez and Evenepoel. Martinez needs to put extra time into Evenepoel on Malhao, but it's a climb that suits him better than Evenepoel i think. If he takes a few seconds + the bonis there as well, might have 20 seconds on Evenepoel before the TT... probably not enough, but it could be close. I think all other GC candidates are out for the win.

TT is not the final stage this year. Malhao is

Remco SHOULD be defending the overall lead

 

[Lequack]

I was more surprised by the likes of Tratnik, he's really in good form this season. I guess Roglic leaving has given him some more of a free role.
Also Pidcock and Arensman in good form, as well as Tao coming back from injury, great to see.

As for the youngsters the UAE are showing they are strong, Morgado and Christen both at the front, only Del Toro seemed to have not a good day.

 

[Elos Anjos]

Well whatever the case there, I don't think winning in Feb on a relatively minor climb establishes that one way or another. And "top notch quality" is subjective, so arguers are gonna argue...

I was not pointing out that they did not credited me but otherwise that the mere assessment of Martinez quality as a domestique for Roglic was not and could not be taken seriously. It was not even a matter for arguing.

Also, of course it's February, but that applies for all riders.

 

[Rackham]

Martinez beating Evenepoel just means you don't even have to check your calendar to know it's February

Nah. Evenepoel simply had no idea they were sprinting for the stage win.

 

[Berflamand]

If Cattaneo, Vervaeke, Serry and Knox isnt enough firepower to thin out the field here they have a serious problem in the bigger races.

Well, I'm glad to have been proven wrong. Very strong performance by the team, especially Knox.