Volta ao Algarve: David Gaudu wins chaotic uphill sprint at Alto da Fóia

A chaotic finale to today's Volta ao Algarve stage as David Gaudu won the reduced bunch sprint up the Alto da Fóia. The Groupama-FDJ climber had his best opportunity to take a stage win and has seized it, avoiding a crash just a few meters before the finale.

The breakaway of the day had Unai Iribar (Euskaltel - Euskadi), Nickolas Zukouwsky (Human Powered Health), Cesar Martingil (Rádio Popular - Paredes - Boavista), Tomas Contte (Aviludo - Louletano - Loulé Concelho) and KOM leader João Matias (Tavfer-Mortágua-Ovos Matinados)

In the final set of climbs INEOS Grenadiers set the pace, with Quick-Step also putting on a bit of pace in the final kilometers. Some riders lead the group but the pace was never high and a group of around 20 riders rode into the final kilometer together, with the exception of Glassdrive's Frederico Figueiredo who attacked close to the flamme rouge.

He was swallowed by the group in the final few meters as Ineos set up the sprint, and several riders tried to get in the fight eventually with Sergio Higuita and Tobias Foss crashing in sight of the line. From the chaos it was David Gaudu who emerged and took the win, beating Samuele Battistela and Ethan Hayter, with the group coming in by pieces behind.