Thursday 20 February, 2025
It was an afternoon to remember for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, who took the race lead in both the Vuelta a Andalucía and the Volta ao Algarve, whilst Tadej Pogačar maintained the race lead at the UAE Tour. In the Algarve, Jan Christen won stage 2 with teammate João Almeida in second, as the Emirati squad proved dominant on the Alto da Foia summit finish.
Taking his second victory of the season, Christen made a bold attack on the first summit finish of the race to win the stage, whilst Almeida proved the strongest of the favourites’ group behind to unite with his teammate and pose up for a picture-perfect moment for UAE Team Emirates-XRG at the finish.
With the stage win, Christen now goes into the yellow leader’s jersey at the Volta ao Algarve, with Almeida slotting into second, as teammate Antonio Morgado performed admirably to take fifth place across the line. The recent Figueira Champions Classic winner now sits fifth overall.
Given that the final stage is set to be a mountain time trial, stage 2 was going to prove the only true summit finish of this year’s Volta ao Algarve, and UAE Team Emirates-XRG more than stepped up to the mark.
Christen was rewarded for his bravery on stage 2, with the young Swiss rider going on the front foot throughout the final 10km of racing. After Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Primoź Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) had traded blows earlier in the climb – with Almeida always on the wheel – Christen made a swift attack off the front of the peloton with a little over 8km to ride.
Laurens De Plus (Ineos Grenadiers), Luca Vergallito (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) followed suit and before long, the quartet were up the road with a healthy advantage. Never content with allowing the move to wither, Christen pressed the pace and at first, only De Plus could follow.
Little by little, the summit approached and it soon became clear that the day’s winner would emerge from the front group. Inside the final few kilometres, Vingegaard made a push from the group behind and was smartly followed by Almeida, before Christen went alone under the flamme rouge.
Gritting his teeth as the finish line came into view, Christen began to sense a momentous win was on the horizon, and from behind, Almeida made his definitive move. With Christen now sure to be the stage winner, the Portuguese bridged across to his teammate and with the day’s spoils reserved for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Almeida bowed to Christen for a job well done and the pair came across the line together.
In second on both the stage and GC, Almeida now sits four seconds from the race lead of Christen, with UAE Team Emirates-XRG controlling the top of the standings.
Christen: “I am super happy, it is an amazing stage win. I think all in all, the first part was quite easy and with the final climb it was all in. Now I am a bit speechless, to win such a climbing stage and with such a strong climbing field at the start. I am super thankful for the team, for João and Antonio, who were in the back protecting me.
“It is amazing to already have a second win of the season. Today is for sure one of my most special victories.”
Volta ao Algarve stage 2 results
- Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 4:28:44
- João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) s.t
- Laurens De Plus (Ineos Grenadiers) +7″
- António Morgado (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +10″
Volta ao Algarve general classification after stage 2
- Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 4:28:44
- João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +4″
- Laurens De Plus (Ineos Grenadiers) +13″
- António Morgado (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +20″
