When the dust has settled on Magus Cort's career the Dane will have many big days to look back on but his victory today in Volta ao Algarve will surely rate among the very best of his highlights.
Having taken the yellow jersey in the race when he won stage 2 yesterday, Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) was on fire today. He demolished the intermediate sprint with 25km to go, despite Filippo Ganna putting in a huge turn on the front to lead-out Ineos Grenadiers team mate Tim Pidcock.
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The force of that lead-out, and the speed of the sprint to the line where a time bonus was on offer, pulled a small group of riders clear of the bunch. Rather than sitting up and waiting for the peloton, they decided to push on and at one point had a lead of close to 30 seconds.
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However, deep into the final kilometre the Soudal-Quickstep-led peloton latched onto the back of the breakaway. But Cort simply went to the front and drilled it all the way to the line; committing with 400m to go and having the legs to claim the victory from Ganna. Jordi Meeus (Bora-hansgrohe), who was not in the breakaway, came through for 3rd place.
It was a sensational final 25km and, as Cort took maximum time bonuses at both the intermediate sprint and on the finish line, he extended his lead at the top of the general classification. He now leads by 18 seconds from Rui Costa (Intermarchรฉ-Circus-Wanty), another of today's breakaway men, with Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal-Quick Step) 3rd at 20 seconds. Then comes three riders, all 26 seconds down; Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), Jai Hindley (Bora-hansgrohe) and Pidcock.
On yesterday's stage 2, Cort triumphed atop the climb of Alto da Fรณia when he pipped Van Wilder on the line. The young Belgian thought he had won the group sprint for victory but celebrated too early.
