"We had very strong rivals" - Daniel Martínez explodes out of Remco Evenepoel's wheel to make his title defense bid at Volta ao Algarve

Daniel Martínez won the Volta ao Algarve last year but then had a very absent season from action. His move towards BORA - hansgrohe had mixed reactions, but the Colombian has struck hard today in Portugal and directly beat Remco Evenepoel to victory.

"We had very strong rivals, we did a strong work in the finale and the sprint. I had good legs... Today was an important day, I had good legs and I hope to have them too in the next days," Martínez said in a post-race interview.

An impressive triumph, Soudal - Quick-Step took responsibility over the peloton in the last hour of racing and set up Remco Evenepoel for a reduced group sprint at the Alto da Fóia. Not even the bad weather could split the race to bits beforehand, but the work of James Knox and Mikel Landa in the ascent dropped the fast men that could benefit from a group finish.

Evenepoel launched an early sprint but Martínez, the Colombian time-trial champion, had the upper hand. He jumps to the race lead ahead of Evenepoel. He won't have an easy job protecting the lead in the upcoming time-trial, but also tomorrow in what should be a tense sprint finish - as Jordi Meeus will attempt to take the win. "Yesterday Marco {Haller] fell, and today Alex [Hajek] abandoned... I believe we will fight for the win 100%."