"Evenepoel is the biggest favourite, he has the advantage already" - Wout van Aert admits GC plans after bunch sprint win in Algarve

Wout van Aert soared to his maiden win of the 2024 season today at the Volta ao Algarve. After delivering Olav Kooij to victory in a bunch sprint last week, this time around he had an opportunity and succeeded in the uphill sprint to Tavira.

"It was always important to take a win in the beginning of the season. It's good for the confidence, specially in a sprint. It's not easy and I'm happy," van Aert said in a post-race interview, later detailing: "It was a bit chaotic to come to the front because it was quite a wide road getting to the finish straight. It was a gamble I had to come from the back. I found a good position in the last corner, with the uphill and the headwind it was a good idea to come from the back."

It is an important triumph for the Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider who is in Portugal to prime his form ahead of the Opening Weekend. A strong effort saw him beat Rui Oliveira and Marius Mayrhofer to the line on the third day of racing. The 10 bonus seconds he got at the line will also encourage him to chase the yellow jersey that currently lays on the shoulders of Daniel Martínez.

"I think I'm in a good position for the GC, definitely. My plan was to do a good time-trial and hopefully still have a few guys in the GC after tomorrow to make it a good final stage," he says. Van Aert has lost some time at the Alto da Fóia, but he is nevertheless going to test himself in the upcoming two days.

The main favourite for the overall win however is clear. "[Remco] Evenepoel is the biggest favourite, he has the advantage already and he's the time-trial World Champion. To me he's the biggest favourite, but I'm also surprised by the level of some others yesterday on the climb. Anyway it will be decided Sunday."