Ryan Mullen in the breakaway at the Volta ao Algarve where he and his companions rode out of their skins.
Having endured a mechanical mishap in the first kilometre of the stage 3 TT at the Volta ao Algarve, Ryan Mullen went on the attack on today's stage 4.
The young Cannondale-Drapac man and his breakaway companions would just about come up short, being recaptured with just 2km to go after a really heroic ride out front all day.
The sweeping up of the escape paved the way for a big bunch sprint which was won by Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) from compatriot John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) and Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo).
There was no change in the general classification at the end of the 203km journey from Almodôvar to Tavira.
Primoz Roglic (LottoNl-Jumbo) continues to lead by 22 seconds from Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky), with TT winner Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar) next some 36 seconds down.
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Dan Martin, the victor of the summit finish stage 2, remains 6th at 1:31.
And with an uphill finish again tomorrow to finish the race Martin may well be in the hunt for another win and move up the standings.
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How it unfolded
Mullen was clearly frustrated at having to stop yesterday just into his TT ride when his chain came off; a mishap that cost him a top 10 and maybe even a podium place on the stage.
So when the early attacks went today he was clearly keen to make amends and show himself.
He pulled clear in a breakaway just after the start with a number of others for company.
Also with the Irishman were Taco van der Hoorn (Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij), Dion Smith (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and João Matias (LA Alumínios-Metalusa BlackJack).
Matias would be dropped with quarter of the stage still to race leaving three up front.
And with Mullen working very hard the breakaway still had well over a minute with 15km remaining, only to be caught with just 2km to go.
They had been out front for an incredible 195km, with Mullen clearly looking wrecked coming over the line and being consoled by team mate Taylor Phinney.
Stage 4: Almodôvar - Tavira (203km)
1 André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal 4:57:51
2 John Degenkolb (Ger) Trek-Segafredo
3 Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
4 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ
5 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
6 Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Wanty - Groupe Gobert
7 Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors
8 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
9 Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
10 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data
33 Daniel Martin (Irl) Quick-Step Floors
138 Ryan Mullen (Irl) Cannondale-Drapac 0:00:34
155 Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Sky 0:00:47
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