Roman Kreuziger – Unofficial
“The stage was won by Gilbert who attacked with 1km to go on a short steep climb. I have to bear in mind that I returned from a high altitude training camp the day before yesterday so it is going to take a while before my body gets used to the change. I still lack the racing rhythm but, all in all, it wasn’t that bad,” Roman said.Yesterday it was pouring down all day long and even today the rain didn’t let up. “We had to put on raincoats for a while and then the sun came out. The weather was funny today but, luckily, it wasn’t cold and the stage was quite uneventful. A group of four riders rode off and then the teams with sprinters gathered to chase them down. The tomorrow’s stage is longer but it will probably finish in a bunch sprint,” he added.1st stage (Algarve-Albufeira, 157.5 km): 1st Gilbert (Bel/Lotto) 4:36:36, 2nd Ciolek (Ger/Quick Step), 3rd Greipel (Ger/Lotto), 4th Farrar (USA/Garmin), 5th Matthews (Aus/Rabobank), … 33rd. Roman Kreuziger (Cze/Astana) all +5.