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Hunt escapes in break, stalled by puncture

February 18, 2010 - Filed under: TestTeam

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It was a long stage today at the Volta ao Algrave, 207.5 kilometres to be exact from Sagres to Lagos. André Greipel (GER- HTC - Columbia) won the stage, Jurgen Roelandts (BEL-Omega Pharma - Lotto) placed second and Samuel Sanchez (SPA - Euskaltel - Euskadi) ended in third.

Four riders, including Cervélo TestTeam's Jeremy Hunt broke away from the peloton 12 kilometres into the stage. They built up a lead of over 12 minutes and did not have much pull back from the bunch due to the cold and rainy conditions. But those same conditions and the hilly course that contained 4 category three climbs also had an affect on the break away riders and they too eventually splintered. Only David Vitoria (Footon-Servetto) hung in as the sole escapee, though he was brought back at the beginning of the final.

"The first 20 kilometres were quite flat but after that and for the remainder of the stage, it was up and down the whole time," said Marcello Albasini, Sports Director. "Next to the climbs we were on small roads and bad roads. After the first 12 kilometres there was a break away that Jeremy Hunt was part of and their biggest time gap was 12 minutes. After a while they spilt up and Jeremy had a puncture. That was a pretty bad moment as he was not able to come back with the other two riders. David Victoria (Footon - Servetto) started the final alone after Julien Fouchard (Cofidis) was dropped. Victoria was also brought back in the last kilometre. None of our sprinters survived the last 2 meter climb and so it was just Ted King who was part of the first group."

Stage 2 : Sagres - Lagos (207.5 km)
1 André Greipel (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia
2 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma - Lotto
3 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
4 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
5 Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne