"Hopefully we can put it behind us from today and continue with the race" - Volta ao Algarve director looking to move on from stage 1 debacle

After the chaos, confusion and controversy that ended stage 1 of the 2025 Volta ao Algarve, race director Sérgio Sousa will be hoping for a much calmer day today. Although the results of the 1st stage were ultimately cancelled, stage 2 continues today in Portugal with the first GC test of the race.

In case you somehow missed it, heading into the final straight for the bunch sprint, a large majority of the peloton took a wrong turning, going off route and being left helplessly on the wrong side of the barriers as INEOS Grenadiers' Filippo Ganna sprinted to the victory almost all on his own. “Unfortunately, a few details went wrong,” says race director Sousa with an understatement, in pre-stage 2 quotes collected by HLN. “It’s not one big mistake, but two or three small mistakes together. The organization and the bikes are responsible for that, but also the riders. They knew the roadbook and we had already given them the right information. Everyone is to blame to some extent.”

Now the dust has settled somewhat, both Sousa and the race itself are keen to move on from the whole debacle. "We didn't have enough signalers to keep everything on track at that specific point. But hopefully we can put it behind us from today and continue with the race," he concludes.