17/02/2024

Remco Evenepoel powers to time-trial victory on stage 4 and into the overall lead of the Volta ao Algarve

Remco Evenepoel has powered to victory against the clock on stage 4 of the 2024 Volta ao Algarve, putting himself in firm control of the general classification.

Of the early riders, some of the better times came from the likes of Stefan Bissegger, Matteo Trentin, Mathias Vacek and Arthur Kluckers.

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Kluckers lead actually held firm for some time until UAE Team Emirates' Mexican sensation, Isaac del Toro blasted around the course in 27:46, thirty two seconds faster than anyone else to that point.

Arguably the pre-stage favourite, INEOS Grenadiers' time-trial specialist, Filippo Ganna, came close to knocking del Toro out of the hotseat but eventually to concede defeat by 10 seconds.

The next rider to challenge del Toro was Mattia Cattaneo. Although he got closer than Ganna did, the Italian was still 9 seconds down.

After a lengthy spell in the hotseat, del Toro's time was finally eclipsed by Magnus Sheffield. The American clocking a time of 27:25, over 20 seconds faster than del Toro.

Stefan Kung also went faster than del Toro, but couldn't displace Sheffield, clocking the second fastest time at his arrival at the finish line.

Tom Pidcock couldn't challenge the best times, finishing over a minute down on Sheffield, neither could Jan Tratnik at 41 seconds down. Sepp Kuss also over a minute down.

Sadly for Sheffield however, there was a shark out on course, hunting down his times at every checkpoint, called Remco Evenepoel. At the finish line, Evenepoel was 16 seconds clear of Sheffield.