Irish set for final TT showdown in Algarve; McConvey withdraws

The An Posts sign on under the watchful eye of British champ Wiggins

The remaining Irish riders in the Volta ao Algarve face their final TT stage tomorrow, Sunday, after today’s 186km jaunt ended in a bunch sprint.

While Nicolas Roche (Ag2r), Philip Deignan (UHC) and Ronan McLaughlin (An Post) finished in the bunch today, Connor McConvey (An Post) withdrew from the race on the road today.

Tomorrow’s TT is 25.8km. Nicolas Roche is best placed of the Irish in 11^th overall, just 54 seconds off the lead.

Roche has shown some good form this week, finishing 5^th in opening stage bunch sprint finish and taking 11^th at the summit finish yesterday.

For his part, Deignan told stickybottle this morning that while he is not in top form yet, he is still shaking off a chest infection and is reasonably happy with his conditions.

McLaughlin did well today to finish in the bunch considering he was in yesterday’s main escape.

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Ciolek and Trentin today scored one-two (Photo: Omega Pharma-Quickstep/tdwsport.com)

Stage 4: Vilamoura to Tavira, 186.3 kilometers
1. Gerald Ciolek (OmegaPharma-QuickStep) 4:35:01
2. Matteo Trentin (OmegaPharma-QuickStep)
3. Heinrich Haussler (Garmin-Barracuda)
4. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky)
5. Francesco Lasca (Caja Rural).
6. Koldo Fernández (Garmin-Barracuda)

31. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R-LaMondiale
32. Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu)
56. Philip Deignan (Irl) United Healthcare 
59. Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel)
96. Ronan McLoughlin (IRL) all same time
120. Mark Christian (Gbr)  1:28
138. Niels Wytinck (Bel) 1:28
DNF Conor McConvey (IRL) 

General Classification

1. Richie Porte (Team Sky) 18:29:42
2. Rui Costa (Movistar) at 12 secs
3. Tiago Machado (RadioShack-Nissan) at 12 secs
4. Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil-DCM) at 34 secs
5. Jurgen van den Broeck (Lotto-Belisol) same
6. Wouter Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM) same
11. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R 54 secs

30. Philip Deignan (Irl) UnitedHealthcare 1:39 
68. Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) 5:46
84. Mark Christian (Gbr) 8:57
120. Ronan McLoughlin (IRL) 20:22
125. Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) 20:45
139. Niels Wytinck (Bel) 24:55