The 147.2 km route from Portimão to Alto da Fóia featured rugged terrain and steep gradients on the final ascent, where the peloton’s strongest climbers came to the fore. A fierce battle unfolded on the iconic Portuguese climb, with Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) taking a breakthrough victory – outsprinting both Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) and Almeida in a reduced uphill battle.
Paul Seixas: “when I saw the line with a bike’s length lead, I knew I could do it”
“It’s incredible: a first professional victory, and not just anywhere! It’s a pleasure to be able to play at the front, to feel really strong and to be positioned among the best thanks to the work done by my teammates at the foot of the climb. I could see that Juan Ayuso and Joao Almeida didn’t want to cooperate, thanks to Matthew Riccitello’s return and his tempo, I was able to catch the wheels and recover before the final sprint. I managed to launch my sprint at the right moment. The finish was technical, but when I saw the line with a bike’s length lead, I knew I could do it.”
That is Matthew Riccitello’s position at the finish of the second stage of the Tour of Algarve. Despite a slight gap caused by a crash in the final kilometers, Matthew was able to return to the front, he also holds fifth place in the general classification.
News: Paul Seixas tied for first
Following this first professional victory and thanks to the bonuses picked up during the stage, Paul holds the joint lead in the general classification with Juan Ayuso. He will start second to last in tomorrow’s time trial.
Stage 2 results
1.Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) 3:49:50
2.Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) s.t
3.Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) s.t
GC after stage 2
1.Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) 8:10:44
2.Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) s.t
3.Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +7”
