Juan Ayuso seals first race with Lidl-Trek in style as Arensman drops out of Algarve top five

After four entertaining days, the peloton returned—as it so often does on the closing day—to Malhão. Last year, the organisers opted for a hilly time trial won by Jonas Vingegaard, but this season the “classic” format was back with a road stage.

Ayuso started the day in the leader’s jersey, and the racing was intense from the gun. Lotto–Intermarché sent Arnaud De Lie and Huub Artz into the action one week before Opening Weekend, while time trial winner Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) also got involved early.

After about an hour, a strong breakaway finally established itself: Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor), Maximilian Schachmann (Soudal Quick-Step), Jan Tratnik (Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe), Luca Van Boven (Lotto–Intermarché) and Tobias Bayer (Alpecin–Premier Tech).

With Schachmann sitting 1:45 down in the GC, Lidl-Trek took responsibility for keeping the gap under control. On Malhão (2.6 km at 9%), Schachmann went clear with Alaphilippe, while the favourites were already lighting it up on the first ascent.

Florian Lipowitz attacked and tried to bridge across to his teammate Tratnik, but the other GC riders shut it down. João Almeida then upped the pace again, shredding the group on the climb—before Lidl-Trek managed to settle things back down on the flatter roads with their returning domestiques.

Up front, Schachmann then crashed heavily on a descent, slamming into the barrier and being left in clear pain on the tarmac. In the group behind, Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates–XRG) also went down, but he was able to continue.

Lipowitz and Kévin Vauquelin (INEOS Grenadiers) later rode clear on the descent and, with help from Tratnik, opened a gap to the last remaining leader Alaphilippe. Behind, UAE Team Emirates–XRG and Lidl-Trek worked together to bring everything back under control, and the move was reeled in just before the final climb.

Thymen Arensman struggled early on the steep slopes, while Dylan van Baarle impressed by hanging on with the climbers for a long time before inevitably letting go once Almeida set tempo. Almeida’s steady, relentless approach also invited counters.

The first attack came from Matthew Riccitello, which set up Seixas. The Frenchman accelerated next, but Ayuso and Onley matched him. In the sprint, Ayuso proved just the faster of the Scot to take the stage—and confirm his overall win.