Volta ao Algarve

Check out these great photos from Portugal at the Volta ao Algarve.

Volta ao Algarve
Stage 5: Laguna to Portimão 17.2km/11mi
By Cathy Mehl

Rain fell again in southern Portugal on Sunday as the 36th Volta ao Algarve came to a conclusion with a 17.2km time trial for the final stage in the five-day stage race.  After yesterday’s first-ever win for Team RadioShack, SébastienRosseler quickly bounced back for today’s race and posted an early best time of 21:48.  The Belgian’s time held for well over an hour as rider after rider fell short of meeting his time.  Starting 7th from last, Caisse d’Epargne’s Luis Leon Sanchez (sporting a yellow LiveStrong band)  blazed the course and established a new best time of 21:32, a time that held up to give the Spanish rider the stage win.   Alberto Contador (Astana) rode to a second-place finish on the stage and captured the general classification for successful defense of his title.  Team RadioShack earned the third spot on the final podium with rider Tiago Machado, as well as the Teams classification by placing three riders in the top ten for the overall.   Machado also earned the title of best Portugese rider.  Second place on GC went to Sanchez by two seconds over Machado.

Volta ao Algarve
Stage 4: Cacela - Tavira 169km/105mi
By Cathy Mehl
 
The taste of victory sits sweet in the mouth of Sébastien ‘Séba’ Rosseler after putting on an impressive display of power to secure the first win for Team RadioShack in Saturday’s 4th stage of the Volta ao Algarve.  After placing himself in the day-long break, Seba attacked his group at 28km to go and immediately established a gap, pushing it to 54-seconds at one point.  With legs pumping the Belgian rider continued to hold his advantage and stormed into the Tavira finish line with 20-seconds in hand.  Rosseler pumped his fist as he crossed the line and chalked himself up as the first team winner.  Mickael Delage (Omega Pharma – Lotto  and Imanol Erviti (Caisse d’Epargne) took second and third as survivors from the original break.  Alberto Contador (Astana) retained his yellow jersey for a second day, with Team RadioShack’s Tiago Machado and Levi Leipheimer sitting in second and third place. For Rosseler this is his seventh victory as a professional rider. Last year he was the best in the time trials of the Four-Day-Race of Dunkerque and the Tour of Belgium.
 

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 36th 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 10th on the stage.

Volta ao Algarve
Stage 2: Sagres to Lagos 207.5km/129mi
By Cathy Mehl


The longest stage of the 36th Volta ao Algarve turned into much more than just miles on the road.  Wind and rain pelted the peloton of 181 as they spent more than six hours in the saddle, battling the elements through the mountains of southern Portugal to finally arrive at the beautiful coast.  After Wednesday’s surprise attack by non-sprinter Benoit Vaugrenard (Francaise des Jeux), the teams of the fast men were determined to right the ship and claim victory in Lagos.  Andre Greipel (HTC-Columbia) put his train on the front to sweep up a lone survivor from a day-long break and capture the win, followed by Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi).  Greipel remains in top form after his overall victory in January’s Santos Tour Down Under and now wears the yellow leader’s jersey in Algarve with a 5-second lead to Vaugrenard.

Volta ao Algarve

Stage 1:  Faro/Algarve Stadium to Albufeira, 157.5km/97.8mi
By Cathy Mehl


The 36th Volta ao Algarve kicked off the beginning of the spring racing season on Wednesday for Team RadioShack.  Lining up on the roads of Southern Portugal, 175 riders from 22 teams joined Levi Leipheimer, Andreas Klöden, Geert Steegmans, Tiago Machado, Sérgio Paulinho, Grégory Rast, Sébastien Rosseler, and Tomas Vaitkus in the quest for the first team win of the season.  Despite an all-star list of sprinting talent that included our own fast men racing beside the likes of Thor Hushovd (Cervelo) and Robbie McEwen (Katusha), the victory went to non-sprinter Benoît Vaugrenard of  Francaise des Jeux.  Vaugrenard attacked in the final kilometer and was able to maintain his power to the finish line, holding a three-second advantage over the field.  Joan Horrach (Katusha ) and André Greipel (HTC-Columbia) slotted in for second and third place. Vaugrenard tops the general classification by seven seconds and will wear the leader’s jersey for Thursday’s stage 2.

Volta ao Algarve Preview (725km / 450mi)
by Chris Brewer
 
The second race of Team RadioShack’s 2010 campaign kicks off Wednesday in southern Portugal at the five stage Volta ao Algarve.  In its 36th year Algarve is a frequent starting point for many riders who look to do well in the big stage races in May and July.  This year is no different with the The Shack’s Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Klöden lining up against the likes of 2008 champ Stijn Devolder (Quick Step), Christian Vande Velde (Garmin), Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse D’Epargne), and defending champion Alberto Contador (Astana).
 
But the race also features some world class sprinters, too, and RadioShack’s Gert Steegmans, with 2nd and 4th place finishes at the Tour Down Under, will look to raise it up and get the team’s first ever stage win.  He won’t have it easy though as he battles Pro Tour rivals Robbie McEwen (Katusha), Thor Hushovd (Cervelo), and André Griepel (HTC Columbia) who is in fine form coming off of his recent overall TDU victory.