Birmingham born Dan Martin of Quick Step took over the lead of the Volta ao Algarve after winning the second stage.
Stage two was one for the climbers after the opening day’s sprint and took the riders on a 189.3km stage from Lagoa to Fóia with a finish on the 900m Alto de Fóia.
Fernando Gavirira of Quick Step the race leader led out the riders on a stage where Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo), Kanneth Vanbilsen (Cofidis), Igor Boev (Gazprom-RusVelo), Brian van Goethem (Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij), Adam de Vos (Rally Cycling), Luís Gomes and Daniel Sánchez (RP-Boavista) were the first to break and were 3.15 ahead after 10.5kms.
Sanchez took the sprint at Odiáxere as the break went out to 3.25 with 75kms gone.
Adam de Vos took the next climb before Theuns took over on his own on the front of the break.
The Trek Segafredo young talent was reeled in by the peloton with 23kms left, leaving Tony Gallopin of Lotto Soudal to take the sprint at the front of a group of fifty riders.
That group started to drop in numbers as the roads up to the hilliest part of the Algarve got steeper.
Enric Mas (Quick-Step Floors) too the penulimate climb and then worked to bring Dan Martin up the Alto de Fóia. Martin got into a group with Amaro Antunes, Primoz Roglic, Dan Martin and Michal Kwiatkowski.
Martin and Roglic both put in attacks to distance themselves from Antunes.
Under the flam rouge and both Martin and Roglic were clear on the windy road. Roglic led but Dan Martin passed him with 200m and held on to win in 4.46.35 and take over the lead of the race with LottoNL-Jumbo’s Roglic in seoncd and Antunes in third place.
Martin said about his win: "Always difficult to win when you are favourite.
"It was incredible team work and we did the perfect race I'll do my best in te time trial and we have made a strong start as a team this season and I'll enjoy the victory. I am feeling good already and it is a good sign and always nice to win a race."
Article by Kev Monks for Digital Sports Group
Source: DSG
