Volta ao Algarve 2014 - Stage 5

The Volta ao Algarve concluded today, with a 155.8 kilometre stage from Tavira to Vilamoura, which looked like a rare opportunity for the sprinters. Omega Pharma-Quickstep's Michal Kwiatkowski was the race leader entering the stage, and just had to avoid a crash to come out with the win ahead of Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo). Lying third before the stage was the first Portuguese world champion, Rui Costa. 

A breakaway did escape after fifty kilometres, containing six men; Oscar Pujol (SkyDive-Dubai), Garikoitz Bravo (Efapel-Glassdrive), Angel Madrazo (Caja Rural), Delio Fernandez (OFM-Quinta da Lixa), Jan Barta (NetApp-Endura) and Francisco Moreno (Louletano-Dunas Douradas). However, it was not going to be allowed to escape when it was a rare sprinter's opportunity, and Omega Pharma helped bring it back in the closing stages.

Despite the teething problems that effected his lead-out in San Luis and in Dubai earlier this month, Mark Cavendish's train gave him the perfect drop off, with Alessandro Petacchi being the last man beforehand, and Cavendish went on to win his first stage of 2014 ahead of Frenchmen Arnaud Demare and Bryan Coquard, of FDJ.fr and Europcar respectively.

Michal Kwiatkowski finished safely in the peloton to take his first overall stage race victory of his career. His win caps off a successful week for Omega Pharma-Quickstep, who won three stages along with the overall classification. Rui Costa had a strong week at his home race but was naturally disappointed not have opened his account in the rainbow jersey on home soil.

Speaking of his overall victory, Michal Kwiatkowski said; "It's my first stage race victory, so I'm really happy. I have been aiming for the GC [general classification] in the stage races, so to start the season like this is a good sign. It's going to be a good spring coming for not just me but the whole team. I'm really happy about it."