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Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) won stage 2 of the Volta ao Algarve in dramatic circumstances in Tavira to increase his overall lead. The Dane sparked a six-man move with 24km remaining and then somehow had the strength to claim a dominant sprint victory just as the bunch caught them in the finishing straight.
Cort’s fellow escapee Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) took second place, while Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe) sprinted from the bunch to take third.
The stage had long appeared to be ambling towards a bunch sprint, but the race suddenly ignited at the intermediate sprint at Vila Real Santo António with 24km to go, where Ganna stretched out the bunch in a bid to tee up teammate Tom Pidcock.
Cort was wise to the danger, and he took the honours ahead of Rui Costa (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) and Pidock, and the Dane continued his effort when he realised they had dragged a small group clear of the bunch.
With Ganna, world time trial champion Tobias Foss (Jumbo-Visma) and Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) also on board, there was no shortage of firepower in the six-man group, nor was there any lack of motivation – all six riders will have designs on high overall finishes on Sunday.
Within 5km, the sextet had opened a lead of half a minute over the bunch, with first…
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