TEAM RADIOSHACK PODIUM PLACES FOR MACHADO AND LEIPHEIMER IN ALGARVE. STEEGMANS OUT.
Home rider Tiago Machado (Team RadioShack) finished second atop the Alto do Malhão in the 3rd stage of the Volta ao Algarve (Portugal). Teammate Levi Leipheimer (USA) finished third. Stage winner Alberto Contador attacked at the bottom of the final climb, immediately took ten seconds and managed to keep that advantage.
“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, fifteen 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.”
Levi Leipheimer attacked in the last kilometer of the climb and rode away from the other contenders to finish third at 22 seconds of the stage winner.
Both Machado and Leipheimer are still within striking distance to fight for the overall on Sunday's final 17.5 kilometer time trial in Portimão.
“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. We are the best in the Team’s Classification now but unfortunately we’ve already lost two riders this race.”
Tomas Vaitkus, who crashed on his shoulder in the first stage, went back home to Spain and will keep his shoulder immobilized for a few days. Next week he travels to Belgium. Vaitkus is confident to be able to start in the opening weekend of the Belgian cycling season.
Gert Steegmans was involved in a crash in the stage of today after only 8 kilometers of the race, landing on his head. After being brought to the ambulance, Steegmans was able to leave the ambulance and finish the stage in a race car. He suffers no fractures but complains about headache and vertigo.
“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.”
Result Stage 3: Castro Marim – Malhão, 173.7 K:
1 Alberto Contador; 2 Tiago Machado (Team RadioShack) 0:11; 3 Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack) 0:22; 4 Peter Velits 00:25; 5 Tejay Van Garderen; 6 Jean-Christophe Péraud 0:29; 7 Samuel Sánchez 0:31; 8 Rui Costa 0:33; 9 Luis-León Sánchez; 10 Andreas Klöden (Team RadioShack)
General Classification after Stage 3:
1 Alberto Contador; 2 Tiago Machado (Team RadioShack) 0:15; 3 Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack) 0:28; 4 Samuel Sánchez 0:35; 5 Tejay Van Garderen; 6 Rui Costa 0:43; 7 Luis-León Sánchez; 8 Matthew Lloyd; 9 Andreas Klöden (Team RadioShack); 10 Joaquín Rodriguez
