Vuelta ao Algarve

Stage 3: Castro Marim to Alto do Malhão, 180.7km/112mi

By Cathy Mehl

When the roads go up it’s time for the climbers to come out and play.  Stage 3 in the 36^th Volta ao Algarve did not disappoint as Team RadioShack riders Tiago Machado and Levi Leipheimer chased Astana’s Alberto Contador up the climb of Malhão.  Contador held a gap of 11-seconds over Machado to claim the win and take the race lead by 15-seconds.  Leipheimer captured third place at 22-seconds off the pace.  It was a good effort by Machado and Leipheimer who now move into second and third place on general classification.  Also in the mix was Andreas Klöden who took 10^th on the stage.

Today’s hard work gave Team RadioShack three men in the top nine on general classification and with Sunday’s time trial as the final stage the team is poised to land on the podium in Portugal.  The team leads in the Teams classification after three stages of racing.

“Tiago and Levi are both real time trialists. However Contador is that too,” said team Director Dirk Demol. “The distance is not so long, but for sure we will go for it. Up to now we are happy that all our riders prove to have worked hard during the winter. Unfortunately we’ve already lost two riders this race.”  Tomas Vaitkus was injured on Stage 1 and teammate Geert Steegmans crashed out on today’s stage. After only a few kilometers of racing Steegmans was involved in a horrific crash that saw the Belgian sprinter slam to the ground, hitting his head on the pavement and cracking the helmet in two. Steegmans rode in an ambulance to the feed zone, where the doctor allowed him to continue in a team car.  Team doctors will keep Geert under observation with a quick trip to the hospital planned if any changes are seen in his condition.

Better racing conditions were on tap for the diminishing peloton of  with intermitent sunshine making for dryer roads in southern Portugal.  Yesterday’s downpour prompted race promoters to alter the route for stage 3, adding a few kilometers to the route.  A break of seven riders formed up the escape of the day and included Edward King (Cervelo) and Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step).   Astana controlled the pace for Contador and kept the gap to a managable two-to-three minutes.  With 50km still to ride, the gap was already below the one-minute mark and the break’s efforts were disappearing as the riders were absorbed by the main field.

With 35km to go and the final climb looming the peloton was all together for the approach to the 2.7km climb to Malhão. An initial attack came from Contador and teammate David de la Fuente, with Machado soon to respond.  Tiago was unable to reach the Spanish rider but put up a valient effort in this early season test.

“It was our job to be in the front the last kilometers,” commented Machado. “The first two corners were sharp and the slope was steep. When Contador attacked with his teammate David De la Fuente, we decided to wait for the reactions of other potential overall contenders like Luis León Sánchez or Kim Kirchen. Their reaction did not come, so I counterattacked. The gap between Contador and me remained constantly the same, about ten, fiteen seconds. This means that I may not complain about my condition.”

Team Director José Azevedo added: “It’s the first race of the season for our riders. We have to be careful and not too audacious. The most important thing is that Tiago proved he has worked hard and that he has a place in this big team. Tiago was nervous before the season. Now we see there was no need for it.”

A top candidate and big Team RadioShack hope for the upcoming classics, Steegmans still plans to race at the end of the month provided his body heals from today’s kiss of the asphalt.  “My helmet saved my life,” Steegmans explained. “The helmet was in different pieces. I am lucky. I have some minor injuries at elbow and hip, but my head worries me the most. The team doctor will keep me in Portugal to follow me up. He cannot rule out a concussion. I will have to rest a few days, but as of now, I am confident to be able to start in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.”

Beyond the Finish Line:  The Rally de Portugal is a rally competition first held in Portugal in 1967.   During the  1970s, ‘80s and early ‘90s, Rally de Portugal was a mixed event between asphalt and gravel. Currently it is an all-gravel event. The Rally of Portugal has an important aspect which once made it quite infamous: crowd control. During the 1970s and especially the 1980s, Portugal was known for spectators standing on the roadway even as the cars drove by, often resulting in near-collisions.

Top Ten Results

1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana 5:02:55  

2 Tiago Machado (Por) Team RadioShack 0:00:11  

3 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack 0:00:22  

4 Peter Velits (Svk) Team HTC - Columbia 0:00:25  

5 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) Team HTC - Columbia    

6 Jean Christophe Peraud (Fra) Omega Pharma - Lotto 0:00:29  

7 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:00:31  

8 Rui Costa (Por) Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:33  

9 Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne    

10 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack

Team RadioShack on Stage 3

25 Sergio Paulinho (Por) 0:0056

77 Sebastien Rosseler (Bel) 0:02:59

96 Grégory Rast (Swi) 0:04:05

General Classification after Stage 3

1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana 15:20:17  

2 Tiago Machado (Por) Team RadioShack 0:00:15  

3 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack 0:00:28  

4 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:00:35  

5 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) Team HTC - Columbia    

6 Rui Costa (Por) Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:43  

7 Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne    

8 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Omega Pharma - Lotto    

9 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team RadioShack    

10 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha

Team RadioShack on General Classification

29 Sergio Paulinho (Por)  0:01:27

54 Grégory Rast (Swi) 0:04:14

93 Sebastien Rosseler (Bel) 0:15:31