"I said that I needed a good start" - Gerben Thijssen on a role following stupendous sprint triumph at Volta ao Algarve

After winning the Trofeo Palma, Intermarché-Wanty's lead sprinter Gerben Thijssen has won the opening stage of the Volta ao Algarve. The Belgian sprinter will be the first wearer of the yellow jersey in the Portuguese race.

"Last year I didn't have a good start to the season, so this year for myself I said that I needed a good start. Two wins in half February now it's quite unbelievable, also at this level it proves that we worked really hard this winter to be in this shape," Thijssen said in a post-race interview. "And we see how this work pays off in the end."

It was a very tense finale, with the narrow roads, pavement changes and strong winds leading to big accelerations in the peloton. The final one was ahead of the technical sprint, which Arkéa controlled, followed by the Belgian team. "It was quite hard, we had block headwind last 15 kilometers but then a little kicker on 2 kilometers to go. It was quite hard for me also but I knew that if I could get on top of that in a good position that I was able to win," Thijssen details. 

"Also the team did a good job today, I saw all six guys with me all day. The whole day fighting for me, controlling the race, that proves that team work really helps with this win." The final sprint was absolute chaos, but Thijssen popped out from quite far out the front in the final meters, and swiftly moved through the head of the peloton to sprint powerfully away from his rivals. Despite an early stop for celebration, he still had space to win the stage and celebrate in Lagos.

An important triumph for the 25-year old who is looking to get a strong start to the season ahead of his Giro d'Italia debut. On stage 3 he will have another opportunity, but the team's priority tomorrow will be different.

"We have a good guy for the GC Rune Herregodts, he was last year good in the GC and good in the time-trial, tomorrow we go for him in the mountain stage. On the third day we'll try to have a bunch sprint again, but to have this win in the pocket already is quite amazing," he concludes.