Volta ao Algarve 2014 - Stage 2

The Volta ao Algarve continued today, with a long 196 kilometre stage from Lagoa to Monchique. It was billed as a tricky stage, with a climb coming just six kilometres from the end of the race. Contenders for the day included two-time race champion Alberto Contador, and Rui Costa, the home favourite, was also tipped for the win.

Despite the tough parcours, a breakaway did go away, containing three Frenchmen. Arnaud Demare (FDJ.fr), Alexandre Pichot (Europcar) and Florian Senechal (Cofidis) were the participants, but it was unlikely they would survive the tricky finale. Demare started the day only ten seconds off the race leader Sacha Modolo, so Lampre-Merida weren't too keen on letting them get very far, and they were soon brought back.

Another breakaway escaped, containing riders from yesterday's such as Cesar Fonte and Valter Pereira. Again this was quickly unsuccessful, and Team Tinkoff-Saxo joined Lampre-Merida in laying down a good pace at the front of the peloton. Tony Martin, the world time trial champion, was dropped with twenty five kilometres to go, perhaps ending his overall hopes.

Pello Bilbao, a former Euskaltel-Euskadi rider now with Caja Rural, launched a hopeful, yet strong attack as Martin was dropped, but was soon brought back into the peloton for the main protagonists to fight for the win. 

Going into the final climb, Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) followed an attack from Alberto Contador, then countering the Spaniard and jumping clear. He was chased by the likes of Costa, Contador, and Eduard Prades, but they would not see the Pole until the finish line. Kwiatkowski won by six seconds, followed by the Contador group. 

Alexandre Geniez (FDJ.fr) led home the third group which also contained 2013 Vuelta champion Christopher Horner. Kwiatkowski now leads the race by four seconds from world champion Rui Costa; the Volta ao Algarve is hotting up nicely.