"I've always been lacking a bit..." - After leaving Visma, British talent thrives at Volta ao Algarve

Thomas Gloag has had a fantastic exhibition at this year's Volta ao Algarve, riding to fifth place on the final stage to the Alto do Malhãe where he rode together with the best climbers in the race. After three seasons with Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the Briton has joined Tom Pidcock's Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team firing all cylinders.

“The guys at the front are very, very quick. And Frederik Frison (his teammate, ed.) is the man. He’s fantastic. Honestly, I don’t see any sun behind him, I don’t even need any sun cream or anything," Gloag joked in an interview with several news outlets including Domestique.

Gloag rode to 10th on the climb to the Alto da Fóia on stage 2, signaling good form already with an impressive performance. Whilst the race's time trial derailed his GC result - in the end of the race an 11th place - the climbs were the terrain where he was aiming towards, and on the final stage he delivered. On a day that was attacked hard from early on, the Briton rode to fifth on the 2.6-kilometer long final climb; riding together with Juan Ayuso, Paul Seixas, João Almeida and Oscar Onley until the final sprint.

It is a result that follows a spotless period of winter training. "I mean, like, I've had such a fantastic winter, I've been healthy and, like the team, made a really big commitment, sending seven of us up to Chile for three and a half weeks in January, and I really, really appreciate that. And you know, I'm hopefully going to have a few races like this to be able to pay that off.”

The 24-year old will be a dangerous rider to consider for next weekend's Ardèche classics; and with this is also securing himself a good position for future races in this spring and the Grand Tours as well. Gloag, throughout his stay in Visma, took his first pro win at the 2024 Czech Tour and had a few notable results, but perhaps none as striking as this Sunday's ascent.

Part of it comes down to bad luck, part of it due to his natural progression in a different environment. “Yeah, like, it's always been tricky for me because, to be honest, like, when I was younger, I didn't do as much volume. So that, coupled with the fact that I've had a few bigger crashes and a couple of health issues, just kind of meant that endurance and consistency. I've always been lacking a bit".

At the time being that is being achieved and so he enters the season with flying form, something which will continue to provide the team with plenty UCI points if he continues to ride so well. “So that's something that I really want to work on here, and so far, touch wood, the last few months have been a really nice block, so I'm hoping to be able to continue that.”