Team Sky’s Richie Porte leads the Volta ao Algarve after winning the third stage with an emphatic display of climbing in the final kilometre.
The Australian broke clear on the climb of the Alto do Malhao after early pace making from Britain’s Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome. Porte finished ahead of second placed Tiago Machado (Radioshack-Nissan-Trek) and Rui Costa (Movistar).
In a selfless display of team riding, Porte’s team mate, Edvald Boasson Hagen, who won the second stage and led the race as it rolled out on day three, sacrificed himself for Porte’s victory by setting the pace on the Malhao’s lower slopes.
Porte, who finished the job started by his teammates with a dominant ride in the closing kilometre, said: “It wasn’t hard with that team. They were incredible.”
“You don’t really want to single out one person as they were all incredible. You see Zandio and Kosta on the front the whole day. It was a hard stage and they got dropped but then they come back with bidons and food with 60k to go. For me that just shows what this team is all about.
“Froomey, Thomas and Lars did brilliant work, then Edvald and Brad on the climb. It just worked like clockwork. I know in cycling it doesn’t always happen like that. It’s a team victory but to then get the glory of riding across the line first is great.”
Porte remained optimistic about his chances of remaining in yellow for the final two days of the race.
“When I look down the leaderboard obviously there’s Tony Martin, the world champion. Time trialling is usually my forte as well so we’ll see. Even a day in yellow and a stage is great, as well as Eddy yesterday – it’s just nice to be enjoying riding my bike again and that’s credit to Team Sky,” he said.
The team’s directeur sportif, Sean Yates, said: “It was a big, big display from the team – the biggest display that I’ve been a part of in Team Sky. The terrain was tough and it was carried out to the letter. When you look at our squad we’ve got some serious horsepower there.
“Now we’ve got to defend the jersey. That’s our main goal. The sprint could suit Edvald tomorrow so we’ll see. It’s the same situation we found ourselves in last year and it should be another good day out.”
The 194.6km stage from Castro Marim to Malhão took the riders over five categorised climbs. Wiggins attacked at the foot of the final climb, but succumbed to an attack from Machado near the summit. But Porte’s emphatic counter move ensured Team Sky finished the stage with their second victory in two days.
Porte leads by 12 seconds from Machado and 14 seconds from Rui Costa. The fourth stage will take the riders on a 186.3km route from Vilamoura to Tavira. The race ends on Sunday with a 25.8km individual time trial from Lagoa to Portimão.
Volta ao Algarve stage three
1) Richie Porte (AUS) – Sky Procycling – 4:55:11
2) Tiago Machado (POR) -Radioshack-Nissan-Trek + 8”
3) Rui Costa (POR) – Movistar Team
4) Johnny Hoogerland (NED) – Vacansoleil-DCM + 24”
5) Wouter Poels (NED) Vacansoleil-DCM
6) Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) – Lotto Belisol
7) Andrew Talansky (USA) – Garmin-Barracuda + 31”
8) José Mendes (POR) LA-Antarte + 35”
9) Tony Martin (GER) Omega Pharma-QuickStep + 40”
10) Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Sky Procycling
General classification
1) Richie Porte (AUS) – Sky Procycling 13:54:41
2) Tiago Machado (POR) – RadioShack-Nissan-Trek + 12”
3) Rui Costa (POR) – Movistar + 14”
4) Johnny Hoogerland (NED) – Vacansoleil-DCM + 34”
5) Wouter Poels (NED) Vacansoleil-DCM
6) Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) Lotto Belisol
7) José Mendes (POR) LA-Antarte + 45”
8) Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Barracuda + 48”
9) Gianni Meersman (BEL) Lotto Belisol + 49”
10) Tony Martin (GER) Omega Pharma-QuickStep + 50”
