Alexander Kristoff: "He moved me into the barrier and I hit a lot of spectators with my shoulder"

Alexander Kristoff was not happy after the finale of stage one of the Volta ao Algarve, after putting on a strong performance he was involved in an incident in the final sprint where Jordi Meeus closed his line, causing the Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux rider to almost go into the barriers, taking the phones of a few spectators who had their arms hanging out in the process.

"I felt good and I felt that maybe I could have been close but I had to stop pedalling. For me, he changed the line. I was coming on the left side and I had a clear line. But then he moved me into the barrier and I hit a lot of spectators with my shoulder, so I’m not very happy about it," Kristoff said in an interview with Cyclingnews after the finish. He was in the wheel of Meeus when they opened the sprint and intended on passing the Belgian through the left side of the road, but saw himself having to freewheel after they came in contact before the finish.

"It was a technical sprint with all the roundabouts and I was a little bit too far back, we didn’t manage to get in front of QuickStep and unfortunately at the end, when you’re a bit behind, there’s always a risk you get blocked. I felt I had a clear line, so I’m a bit disappointed and angry that I couldn’t sprint to the finish," Kristoff added. He ended up being promoted to third place after BORA's sprinter was relegated, but surely it wasn't the start to the race the veteran wanted. He will nevertheless have the chance to lead his strong Intermarché leadout into another sprint on stage three into Tavira.