2014 Volta ao Algarve
The 2014 Volta ao Algarve was the 40th edition of the Volta ao Algarve cycling stage race. It was rated as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour, and was held from 19 to 23 February 2014, in Portugal.[1][2][3]
The race was won by Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider Michał Kwiatkowski – taking the first stage race win of his career[4] – after taking the race lead with a solo stage victory[5] on the second stage; he further extended his lead in the following day's individual time trial,[6] before holding his lead to the end of the race. Kwiatkowski's winning margin over runner-up Alberto Contador of Tinkoff-Saxo was 19 seconds,[7] and world champion Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) completed the podium, 13 seconds down on Contador and 32 seconds in arrears of Kwiatkowski.[8] Contador won the queen stage of the race on the penultimate day, to the Alto do Malhão,[9] while Costa finished second on three stages, and finished as the best-placed Portuguese rider.
Portuguese cyclists were prominent in the race's other classifications.[10] Costa's consistent finishing allowed him to take home the green jersey as the winner of the points classification,[8][10] while Banco BIC-Carmim's Valter Pereira and Rádio Popular's César Fonte held the lead from start to finish of the mountains and sprints classifications respectively.[10] Costa's Lampre-Merida squad were the winners of the teams classification,[8] after Chris Horner also finished inside the top ten overall and Sacha Modolo took a stage victory on the opening day.[11]
Race overview
| Stage |
Date |
Course |
Distance |
Type |
Winner |
| 1 |
19 February | Faro to Albufeira | 160 km (99.4 mi) |  | Flat stage |  Sacha Modolo (ITA) |
| 2 |
20 February | Lagoa to Monchique | 196 km (121.8 mi) |  | Hilly stage |  Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) |
| 3 |
21 February | Vila do Bispo to Sagres | 13.6 km (8.5 mi) |  | Individual time trial | Michał Kwiatkowski (POL) |
| 4 |
22 February | Almodôvar to Loulé (Alto do Malhão) | 164.5 km (102.2 mi) |  | Mountain stage |  Alberto Contador (ESP) |
| 5 |
23 February | Tavira to Vilamoura | 155.8 km (96.8 mi) | | Flat stage |  Mark Cavendish (GBR) |
Stages
Stage 1
- 19 February 2014 — Faro to Albufeira, 160 km (99.4 mi)
| Stage 1 Result
|
|
General Classification after Stage 1
|
Stage 2
- 20 February 2014 — Lagoa to Monchique, 196 km (121.8 mi)
| Stage 2 Result
|
|
General Classification after Stage 2
|
Stage 3
- 21 February 2014 — Vila do Bispo to Sagres, 13.6 km (8.5 mi), individual time trial (ITT)
| Stage 3 Result
|
|
General Classification after Stage 3
|
Stage 4
- 22 February 2014 — Almodôvar to Loulé–Alto do Malhão, 164.5 km (102.2 mi)
| Stage 4 Result
|
|
General Classification after Stage 4
|
Stage 5
- 23 February 2014 — Tavira to Vilamoura, 155.8 km (96.8 mi)
| Stage 5 Result
|
|
Final General Classification
|
Classification leadership table
References
External links
Rui Costa (Portugal) 
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