Supertalent Seixas outsprints Ayuso and Almeida in first mountain stage of Volta ao Algarve
The great French GC hopeful Paul Seixas has claimed his first pro victory. In the first mountain stage of the Volta ao Algarve, he outpaced Juan Ayuso and Joao Almeida.
After Paul Magnier sprinted to a zipper success on Wednesday, Thursday featured the opening mountain stage of the Volta ao Algarve. The finish line was drawn on the slopes of the Alto da Fóia (8.8 kilometers at 6.2%), this time climbed from a different side than in previous years.
The group of favorites was large, with riders such as João Almeida, Juan Ayuso, Kévin Vauquelin, Oscar Onley, and Paul Seixas at the start. From the Low Countries, all eyes were on the performances of Thymen Arensman and Jarno Widar.
The break of the day included a Dutch rider as well. Enzo Leijnse (Anicolor/Campicarn) chose, like in the opening stage, to take the offensive and this time had seven companions. The group of eight gained just under four minutes' advantage. Thanks to the work especially by Lidl-Trek and UAE Emirates XRG, the gap then gradually shrank.
Ayuso takes bonuses.
Gorka Sorarrain (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) was the last escapee caught, fourteen kilometers from the finish. This was just before two consecutive intermediate sprints. In the first intermediate sprint, the GC riders did not take time bonuses, but at the second intermediate sprint, Brandon McNulty collected the full bonus. Ayuso also snatched a second there. In the opening stage, the Spaniard had already claimed three bonus seconds.
Ayuso then put his team on the front heading into the final climb. The German team set the pace in the early part, causing the first selection in the peloton. However, the group really broke apart when McNulty crashed about four kilometers from the finish. Ayuso then accelerated and was joined by Seixas and Almeida. Widar just couldn’t hold their wheels and fell back into the chasing group, where INOS Grenadiers dictated the pace. Arensman was also in this group.
Seixas pushed ahead
Up front, Seixas kept the gas on. The young Frenchman rode so hard that Almeida had to drop back. Ayuso managed to stay on the unleashed Seixas’ wheel and took over at the front but then eased the pace. Almeida was able to come back. With just over one and a half kilometers remaining, Onley and Matthew Riccitello also rejoined. Meanwhile, Seixas continued to set the tempo until his teammate Riccitello launched an attack.
Onley countered Riccitello’s move, after which Seixas tried once more. The Frenchman couldn’t open a gap. Almeida then accelerated twice, but he also failed to break away. So, it came down to a sprint for the stage win. Seixas launched his sprint from far out and narrowly held off Ayuso. The young Frenchman secured the first victory of his pro career. Ayuso finished second, Almeida third.
