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Algarve S3: Colom nips Contador

Published: Feb. 20, 2009

Katusha’s early season haul continued Friday as Toni Colom out-kicked triple-crown winner Alberto Contador (Astana) in the final meters of a summit finish to win the stage and take the overall leader’s jersey in stage three at the Volta ao Algarve.

Colom – fresh off winning the Mallorca Challenge earlier this month – had a stronger kick at the end of the steep, second-category climb up the Alto do Malhao to relegate Contador to a rare second-place on a summit finish.

Ruben Plaza (Liberty Seguros) came through third at six seconds back while Danny Pate (Garmin-Slipstream) kept his GC options alive ahead of Saturday’s time trial by finishing 19th at 39 seconds back.

“I am satisfied with the result, but I feel a bit in debt with the team, because they have worked very much during the whole day," Contador explained. "Tomorrow, on the time trial, also I will go out to dispute, clearly, because I am classified well, but without getting obsessed with the victory, as same as today. The crono also will be complicated, because Colom and Rubén Plaza have demonstrated that they are very strong. Already we will see such what goes out for us the day."

An early breakaway featuring Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) and Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) was neutralized with just 15km to go thanks to strong work from Astana, Katusha and Columbia-High Road.

The action heated up at the end of the 179km run from Santo Antonio, with the top favorites surging ahead to battle for the stage and the leader’s jersey. Overnight leader Koldo Fernández (Euskaltel-Euskadi) was no match for the lean climbers and finished more than 20 minutes off the pace.

Astana continued to set a breakneck pace up the climb to set up Contador, but Colom – who rode last year as a domestique at Astana – was keen to prove that his move to Katusha as a team leader is warranted.

Tour de France stage-winner Simon Garrens (Cervélo TestTeam) posted a strong ride to lead a group across at 17 seconds back that also included Giro d’Italia winner Damiano Cunego (Lampre).

With time bonuses, Colom takes a four-second lead to Contador, with Plaza slotting into third at 12 seconds back. Pate is 21st at 49 seconds off the pace.

Millar, Pate eye Saturday’s TT

Saturday’s 33.7km individual time trial should prove decisive in crowning the overall victory.

The unusually long and challenging route so early in the season should give a clear advantage to riders looking to shine in the spring classics and who are already in near peak form.

Two riders hoping to do well are David Millar and Danny Pate. The Garmin-Slipstream pair says they’re both feeling pretty good and expect a good ride.

Pate was recently fifth overall at the Tour Mediterranéen while Millar skipped the Tour of California this year (he was second overall in 2008) to better prepare for spring goals.

“The idea is to be strong at Paris-Nice. It took me longer than expected to recover coming back from California last year, so this year I decided on a different calendar and race here instead,” Millar told VeloNews before the start. “I am feeling good. It will be a good test of the form.”

The course starts in Castro Marim on the Portuguese side Guadiana River and tackles a steep climb midway through the stage. A steep hill climbing more than 150 vertical meters in just over 5km should provide a challenge to even the fittest riders. From there, it’s all downhill, 18.7km to Tavira, a white-washed fishing village.

Bos packs it in

In other news, former track star Theo Bos ended his road-racing debut early Friday when he couldn’t keep pace with the peloton early in the hilly stages.

The 25-year-old track sprint world champion is making the transition to the road and won his first race on the road in a 100km criterium on Sunday against a Portuguese-heavy field.

But the Dutch rider admitted that the hills during the five-day Algarve tour were giving him trouble, especially at the high speed the top European teams push the pace even in February.

“I’ve lost seven kilos of weight, but I still need to work a lot on my climbing,” Bos told VeloNews before the start. “When it’s a flatter course, I am fine. Right now I am finding my way. I will race in Italy and Belgium in the first half of the year with the continental team. I don’t expect to win overnight. I hope by the end of the season to be competitive.”