Daniel Felipe Martínez is the new surprise leader of the Volta ao Algarve. In the second stage, the Colombian from BORA-hansgrohe managed to overcome Remco Evenepoel in a strong sprint at Alto de Fóia, which meant that Martínez took the lead in the general classification. However, he is cautious about ultimate victory.
“We are not the favorite in this race,” Martínez said on the team’s website. “We have very strong opponents, but that day was very important and we wanted to fight for our chances. The entire team worked well and we benefited from it. In the end, I had what it took to win the sprint.”
BORA-hansgrohe contains expectations after Martínez victory
Christian Pömer, director of BORA-hansgrohe, keeps expectations low for Martínez, who now leads the classification with a four-second advantage over Evenepoel and twelve over Sepp Kuss. Sergio Higuita, also from BORA-hansgrohe, is next in the rankings, in fourth place.
“We came to win a stage and Dani did it impressively today,” said Pömer. “The way Martínez ran was excellent. Do such a long and powerful sprint, against the wind and against Remco Evenepoel? He chapeau”.
“We achieved our goal and now we look at it day by day. First another sprint stage, then the Time Trial on Saturday and the decision in the general classification on Sunday”, said the team director.
“Although we have the leader’s jersey now, the starting list shows that we are not the favorite for the final victory,” says the director.