Wout van Aert remporte la 3e étape du Tour d’Algarve

The Portuguese Afonso Eualio (ABTF Betao-Feirense), Miguel Salgueiro (APHotels & Resorts-Tavira-SC Farense), Antonio Ferreira (Efapel Cycling), Frederico Figueiredo (Sabgal-Anicolor) and Francisco Morais (Tavfer-Ovos Matinados-Mortágua), the Argentine Nicolas Tivani (Aviludo-Louletano-Loulé Concelho) and the Spaniard Raul Rota (Radio Popular-Paredes-Boavista) took off right from the early kilometers.

Salgueiro, Tivani and Figueiredo broke away from the other escapees 40 km from the finish. Salgueiro was finally the last to be caught 14 km from the finish. The sprinters’ trains then set off in a hectic finale due to numerous turns.

Without a teammate, Van Aert took the wheel of his opponents before launching his sprint to sign his first victory of the season, the 45th of his career, for his fifth day of racing in 2024. The Portuguese Rui Oliveira (UAE Emirates) took 2nd place ahead of the German Marius Mayrhofer (Tudor Pro Cycling). Winner of the first stage on Wednesday, Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Circus) took 4th place and Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) finished 7th.

Colombian Daniel Martinez (Bora-hansgrohe) remains in the lead of the general classification with a 4-second lead over Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) and 12 seconds over the American Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike).

On Saturday, the 4th stage will feature a 22 km time trial around Albufeira before the 5th and final stage on Sunday between Faro and the summit finish of Alto de Malhao (2nd cat., 2.5 km at 9.6%).