"That's just a part of sprinting" - Milan Fretin survives controversy to keep Volta ao Algarve stage win
Cycling
It wasn't without controversy, but Cofidis' Milan Fretin has boosted his team's hopes of retaining their World Tour status with bunch sprint win on stage 4 of the 2025 Volta ao Algarve.
The controversy arose in the final few hundred meters. As Fretin launched his sprint, he seemingly cut across Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Wout van Aert, obstructing his compatriot's ability to sprint at full speed. Nevertheless, after a review from the race jury, Fretin's victory stands. "I don't know what to say to be honest. Already my second victory in the last week of racing so yeah, amazing," Fretin reflected to Cycling Pro Net afterwards.
On the controversy, Fretin was firm. "I mean, in the sprint, if you feel that you're in front of him, in front of his wheel, it's automatic that you try to find the shortest way and yeah, I tried to stay in the middle full sprinting," he explains. "I asked after the race and yeah, nothing much happened. I mean that's also a bit, just a part of sprinting."
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Stage 4 - 2025 Volta ao Algarve
| 1 | Fretin Milan | Cofidis | 04:03:31 |
| 2 | Meeus Jordi | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | + 00 |
| 3 | Ganna Filippo | INEOS Grenadiers | + 00 |
| 4 | De Lie Arnaud | Lotto | + 00 |
| 5 | Girmay Biniam | Intermarché-Wanty | + 00 |
| 6 | Mihkels Madis | EF Education-EasyPost | + 00 |
| 7 | van Aert Wout | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 00 |
| 8 | Buratti Nicolò | Bahrain Victorious | + 00 |
| 9 | van Uden Casper | Team Picnic PostNL | + 00 |
| 10 | Stuyven Jasper | Lidl-Trek | + 00 |
| 11 | van Gestel Dries | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 12 | Degenkolb John | Team Picnic PostNL | + 00 |
| 13 | Hermans Quinten | Alpecin-Deceuninck | + 00 |
| 14 | Morgado António | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | + 00 |
| 15 | Tiberi Antonio | Bahrain Victorious | + 00 |
| 16 | De Plus Laurens | INEOS Grenadiers | + 00 |
| 17 | Jacobs Johan | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 18 | Poole Max | Team Picnic PostNL | + 00 |
| 19 | Meurisse Xandro | Alpecin-Deceuninck | + 00 |
| 20 | Grégoire Romain | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 21 | Wandahl Frederik | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | + 00 |
| 22 | Van Wilder Ilan | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 23 | Teuns Dylan | Cofidis | + 00 |
| 24 | Watson Sam | INEOS Grenadiers | + 00 |
| 25 | Roglic Primoz | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | + 00 |
| 26 | Cavagna Remi | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 27 | Powless Neilson | EF Education-EasyPost | + 00 |
| 28 | Almeida Joao | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | + 00 |
| 29 | Livyns Arjen | Lotto | + 00 |
| 30 | Guérin Alexis | Anicolor - Tien21 Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 31 | Rota Lorenzo | Intermarché-Wanty | + 00 |
| 32 | Stork Florian | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 33 | Caruso Damiano | Bahrain Victorious | + 00 |
| 34 | Christen Jan | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | + 00 |
| 35 | Geoghegan Hart Tao | Lidl-Trek | + 00 |
| 36 | Großschartner Felix | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | + 00 |
| 37 | Antunes Tiago | Efapel Cycling | + 00 |
| 38 | Vacek Mathias | Lidl-Trek | + 00 |
| 39 | Bou Joan | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | + 00 |
| 40 | Oomen Sam | Lidl-Trek | + 00 |
| 41 | Hollmann Juri | Alpecin-Deceuninck | + 00 |
| 42 | Arensman Thymen | INEOS Grenadiers | + 00 |
| 43 | Söderqvist Jakob | Lidl-Trek | + 00 |
| 44 | Allegaert Piet | Cofidis | + 00 |
| 45 | Buchmann Emanuel | Cofidis | + 00 |
| 46 | Politt Nils | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | + 00 |
| 47 | Tratnik Jan | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | + 00 |
| 48 | Benoot Tiesj | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 00 |
| 49 | Bayer Tobias | Alpecin-Deceuninck | + 00 |
| 50 | Tulett Ben | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 00 |
| 51 | Rutsch Jonas | Intermarché-Wanty | + 00 |
| 52 | Küng Stefan | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 53 | Honore Mikkel | EF Education-EasyPost | + 00 |
| 54 | Johnston Calum | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | + 00 |
| 55 | Rochas Rémy | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 56 | Vergallito Luca | Alpecin-Deceuninck | + 00 |
| 57 | Glivar Gal | Alpecin-Deceuninck | + 00 |
| 58 | Cattaneo Mattia | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 59 | Mosca Jacopo | Lidl-Trek | + 00 |
| 60 | Fernandez Ruben | Anicolor - Tien21 Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 61 | Voisard Yannis | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 62 | Rex Laurenz | Intermarché-Wanty | + 00 |
| 63 | Leal Tiago | Radio Popular - Paredes - Boavista | + 00 |
| 64 | Rolland Brieuc | Groupama-FDJ | + 00 |
| 65 | Herrada Jesus | Cofidis | + 00 |
| 66 | Silva Afonso | AP Hotels & Resorts - Tavira - SC Farense | + 00 |
| 67 | Schachmann Max | Soudal Quick-Step | + 00 |
| 68 | Wood Harrison | Anicolor - Tien21 Cycling Team | + 00 |
| 69 | Goncalves Gaspar | Gi Group Holding - Simoldes - UDO | + 00 |
| 70 | Combaud Romain | Team Picnic PostNL | + 00 |
| 71 | Verona Carlos | Lidl-Trek | + 00 |
| 72 | Fonte Cesar | Radio Popular - Paredes - Boavista | + 00 |
| 73 | Otruba Jakub | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | + 00 |
| 74 | Lazkano Oier | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | + 00 |
| 75 | Olivo Bryan | Bahrain Victorious | + 20 |
| 76 | Asgreen Kasper | EF Education-EasyPost | + 20 |
| 77 | Dainese Alberto | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | + 22 |
| 78 | Lampaert Yves | Soudal Quick-Step | + 22 |
| 79 | Haller Marco | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | + 22 |
| 80 | van den Broek Frank | Team Picnic PostNL | + 22 |
| 81 | Thornley Callum | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | + 22 |
| 82 | Froidevaux Robin | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | + 22 |
| 83 | van Sintmaartensdijk Roel | Intermarché-Wanty | + 27 |
| 84 | Oliveira Rui | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | + 27 |
| 85 | Sorarrain Gorka | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | + 29 |
| 86 | Lopes Lucas | Radio Popular - Paredes - Boavista | + 29 |
| 87 | Kelderman Wilco | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 29 |
| 88 | Beullens Cédric | Lotto | + 29 |
| 89 | Thomas Geraint | INEOS Grenadiers | + 29 |
| 90 | Kuss Sepp | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 29 |
| 91 | Valgren Michael | EF Education-EasyPost | + 29 |
| 92 | Costa Rui | EF Education-EasyPost | + 29 |
| 93 | Gelders Gil | Soudal Quick-Step | + 29 |
| 94 | Alaphilippe Julian | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | + 35 |
| 95 | Braet Vito | Intermarché-Wanty | + 42 |
| 96 | Silva Joaquim | Efapel Cycling | + 48 |
| 97 | Van Moer Brent | Lotto | + 51 |
| 98 | De Buyst Jasper | Lotto | + 51 |
| 99 | Izagirre Ion | Cofidis | + 59 |
| 100 | Thomas Benjamin | Cofidis | + 01:27 |
| 101 | Tivani Nicolas | Aviludo - Louletano - Loulé | + 01:39 |
| 102 | Vingegaard Jonas | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 00 |
| 104 | Pinheiro Ivo | Feirense - Beeceler | + 04:45 |
| 105 | Galvez Lopez Jorge | Aviludo - Louletano - Loulé | + 04:45 |
| 106 | Ibanez Javier | Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | + 05:14 |
| 107 | Swirbul Keegan | Efapel Cycling | + 06:28 |
| 108 | Pinto Pedro | Efapel Cycling | + 06:28 |
| 109 | Carvalho Rui | Gi Group Holding - Simoldes - UDO | + 06:28 |
| 110 | Durães Rafael | Radio Popular - Paredes - Boavista | + 06:28 |
| 111 | Nunes Hugo | Credibom - LA Alumínios - Marcos Car | + 06:28 |
| 112 | Welten Bram | Team Picnic PostNL | + 06:28 |
| 113 | Vangheluwe Warre | Soudal Quick-Step | + 06:28 |
| 114 | Goncalves Helder | Radio Popular - Paredes - Boavista | + 06:28 |
| 115 | Del Pino Jesus | Aviludo - Louletano - Loulé | + 06:28 |
| 116 | Oliveira Ivo | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | + 06:28 |
| 117 | Nych Artem | Anicolor - Tien21 Cycling Team | + 06:28 |
| 118 | Shaw James | EF Education-EasyPost | + 06:28 |
| 119 | van Belle Loe | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | + 08:11 |
| 120 | Grignard Sébastien | Lotto | + 08:11 |
| 121 | Carvalho André | Efapel Cycling | + 08:11 |
| 122 | Bruttomesso Alberto | Bahrain Victorious | + 08:11 |
| 123 | Bustamante Adrián | Gi Group Holding - Simoldes - UDO | + 08:14 |
| 124 | Kamp Alexander | Intermarché-Wanty | + 08:14 |
| 125 | Lienhard Fabian | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | + 08:14 |
| 126 | Reis Rafael | Anicolor - Tien21 Cycling Team | + 08:14 |
| 127 | Montez Alexandre | Credibom - LA Alumínios - Marcos Car | + 08:14 |
| 128 | Domínguez David | Aviludo - Louletano - Loulé | + 08:14 |
| 129 | Ribeiro André | Gi Group Holding - Simoldes - UDO | + 08:14 |
| 130 | Domingues Duarte | Credibom - LA Alumínios - Marcos Car | + 09:40 |
| 131 | Van Mechelen Vlad | Bahrain Victorious | + 10:34 |
| 132 | Barbosa Diogo | AP Hotels & Resorts - Tavira - SC Farense | + 10:34 |
| 133 | Salgueiro Miguel | AP Hotels & Resorts - Tavira - SC Farense | + 10:34 |
| 134 | Shmidt Artem | INEOS Grenadiers | + 10:43 |
| 135 | Mesa Santiago | Efapel Cycling | + 10:45 |
| 136 | Costa Fabio | Anicolor - Tien21 Cycling Team | + 10:52 |
| 137 | Contte Tomas | Aviludo - Louletano - Loulé | + 10:55 |
| 138 | Ferreira Antonio | Efapel Cycling | + 14:58 |
| 139 | Leaça Gonçalo | Credibom - LA Alumínios - Marcos Car | + 15:27 |
| 140 | Leal Claudio | Aviludo - Louletano - Loulé | + 15:27 |
| 141 | Askey Lewis | Groupama-FDJ | + 15:27 |
| 142 | Guavita Cesar David | Gi Group Holding - Simoldes - UDO | + 15:27 |
| 143 | Oyarzun Carlos | Aviludo - Louletano - Loulé | + 15:27 |
| 144 | Oliveira Goncalo | Anicolor - Tien21 Cycling Team | + 15:27 |
| 145 | Eulalio Afonso | Bahrain Victorious | + 15:27 |
| 146 | De Paula Victor | Feirense - Beeceler | + 17:16 |
| 147 | Amado Goncalo | Radio Popular - Paredes - Boavista | + 17:16 |
| 148 | Silva Bruno | Tavfer - Ovos Matinados - Mortágua | + 17:16 |
| 149 | Valls Alemany Miquel | Gi Group Holding - Simoldes - UDO | + 17:16 |
| 150 | Campos Noah | Gi Group Holding - Simoldes - UDO | + 17:16 |
| 151 | Martingil Cesar | Tavfer - Ovos Matinados - Mortágua | + 17:19 |
| 152 | Narciso Diogo | Credibom - LA Alumínios - Marcos Car | + 27:46 |
| 153 | Martins João | Radio Popular - Paredes - Boavista | + 27:46 |
| 154 | Borges Jose | Feirense - Beeceler | + 30:15 |
| 155 | Andrade Pedro | Feirense - Beeceler | + 30:20 |
| 156 | Morais Francisco | Tavfer - Ovos Matinados - Mortágua | + 33:11 |
| 157 | Pinto Diogo | AP Hotels & Resorts - Tavira - SC Farense | + 33:11 |
| 158 | Campos Francisco | AP Hotels & Resorts - Tavira - SC Farense | + 33:11 |
| 159 | Oliveira João Nuno | Credibom - LA Alumínios - Marcos Car | + 33:11 |
Ok from the front images it looks much worse, Milan Fretin should have been relegated. Very quick reaction time by Wout there do not fall and end his spring season. The only good part of this sprint.#VoltaaoAlgarve pic.twitter.com/GmfHeIN7Vn
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) February 22, 2025
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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