Rui Oliveira does not yet have a pro win to his name. Today at the Volta ao Algarve, close to home, he was incredibly close to doing it in style. Between him and the win was only a strong Wout van Aert.
"Losing to a guy like van Aert I can't be disappointed. But at the same time of course, being so close... I got a good run thanks to Nils Politt he was unbelievable today. He told me it was my day, I don't have many chances through the year as I work for my team," Oliveira told the microphones of Eurosport following the stage. "And now at least I could almost deliver in one of the few opportunities I usually have. Of course I'm disappointed, but at least I can show that I'm close to winning."
Oliveira timed his move to perfection, starting his sprint in the wheel of Wout van Aert, but jumping to the left side of the road. Gerben Thijssen launched his sprint early on and couldn't maintain the speed in the final meters. Van Aert surged through one side and Oliveira through the other. The 27-year old came a close second, almost a brilliant result for the UAE Team Emirates rider.
"I knew I had to wait, I knew I just had to go in the final couple meters to win because the first stage I launched too far away and it didn't work. Today it was perfect, I couldn't do anything else," he admits. "Wout was just stronger today and I have to congratulate him."
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