Healy strong in Algarve TT, Evenepoel into driving seat | Video

Ben Healy has put in another strong TT ride today, a Volta ao Algarve to move up the general classification

Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) has put in another strong TT ride today, at Volta ao Algarve, to move up the general classification with one stage remaining.

On today's stage 4 race against the watch - a rolly 22km in Albufeira - world champion Remco Evenepoel (Soudal QuickStep) claimed victory, as expected, and also moved into the race lead at the expense of stage 2 winner Dani Martínez (Bora-hansgrohe).

While much was expected from the more experienced and more decorated riders in the field, it was young American Magnus Sheffield of Ineos Grenadiers who led the way for a long time with a fantastic performance.

However, Evenepoel was faster; clocking a time of 27:09, which was a significant 17 seconds better than Sheffield, who had to be content with 2nd place. Stefan Küng (Groupama - FDJ) was 3rd at 29 seconds and Healy placed 7th at 49 seconds.

Advertisement
Evenepoel on his way to a very clear stage win today, when he proved head and shoulders above his rivals

The result puts Evenepoel into the yellow jersey, by 48 seconds from Martinez, with Healy now up 10 places to 6th at 1:21 and just 9 seconds off Jan Tratnik (Visma-Lease a Bike) in 3rd overall.

Related News

Tomorrow's final stage may provide Healy with an opportunity to make further gains overall, if he can climbing a bit better in the final that he did on stage 2, when he lost 26 seconds on Alto da Fóia to winner and runner-up Martinez and Evenepoel.

The race concludes tomorrow with a 165.8km stage to Alto do Malhāo, a 2.5km ascent with average gradients of 9.8 per cent. That climb will be crested twice; with 24km to go and at the finish line.