The Volta ao Algarve just witnessed a thrilling showdown in stage 3, where favorite Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) claimed victory in the individual time trial, clocking an impressive 21:53.66 over 19.5 kilometers. But here's where it gets controversial: while Ganna's win was expected, the real drama unfolded in the battle for the general classification (GC) lead. Race leader Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) finished a mere 5.69 seconds behind Ganna, securing second place and extending his GC advantage. Yet, Ayuso couldn’t shake off the frustration of missing out on another stage win after Thursday’s near-miss on the Alto da Fóia. His teammate, Jakob Söderqvist, rounded out the podium in third place, showcasing Lidl-Trek’s dominance.
And this is the part most people miss: the rising star Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) finished fourth, holding onto second place in the GC standings. At just 19 years old, Seixas’s performance is turning heads, including Ayuso’s. “I think Paul is only five or six seconds behind me, and seeing how strong he was yesterday, with the hard stage on the last day, it’s going to be a real fight,” Ayuso admitted, hinting at the tight competition ahead.
João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) maintained third place overall, though he lost 44 seconds to Ayuso. “I did pretty good, but the others were just faster,” Almeida reflected. “I expected to lose some time, but not that much. Congrats to [Ayuso]—he’s in great shape.”
Ganna, known for his humility, downplayed his victory. After Ayuso initially set a faster pace in the first half, Ganna admitted to taking a conservative approach. “The first part is technical, and I didn’t want to risk too much. My main goal is Milan-San Remo in less than a month,” he explained, prioritizing long-term strategy over immediate glory.
The stage unfolded under sunny skies and calm conditions in Vilamoura. Early standout Johan Price-Peijtersen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), a former under-23 time trial world champion, set the initial benchmark at 22:21.4. Current U23 TT world champion Söderqvist quickly surpassed him by 20 seconds, only for Ganna to shatter the record by over seven seconds. His time held firm as GC contenders took the course 90 minutes later.
Ganna’s teammates Thymen Arensman and Kévin Vauquelin finished third and fourth, respectively, solidifying Ineos Grenadiers’ strong showing. Meanwhile, Seixas and Ayuso flew through the intermediate check, with Ayuso edging out Ganna by a second and Seixas close behind. Almeida struggled, losing 21 seconds in the first half and finishing 43 seconds behind Ganna. Seixas, however, maintained his form, crossing the line just 12.7 seconds after Ganna.
Ayuso slowed slightly in the final kilometers, much to Ganna’s relief, securing second place but widening his GC lead. Here’s the bold question: Can Ayuso hold off the charging Seixas and Almeida in the final stages, or will the young guns upset the race favorite? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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