Despite teamwork from Geraint Thomas, a puncture robs Magnus Sheffield of Volta ao Algarve top-10

Coming into the final stage of the Volta ao Algarve, hopes were high for Magnus Sheffield. On stage 4 the 21-year-old American rode to a fine second place behind world champion Remco Evenepoel in the 22km time trial, and a top 10 overall in the final standings wasn’t out of the question.

The Ineos Grenadiers rider started the stage to the summit of the Alto do Malhão in eighth overall and in the white jersey as the best young rider. Although teammates Tom Pidcock and Thymen Arensman were better placed in terms of either the GC or the final climb parcours, Sheffield certainly wasn’t looking to go backwards.

Read more: Magnus Sheffield sees bigger picture after valiant second to Evenepoel in Volta ao Algarve TT

Most of the stage went to plan with Ineos deploying Filippo Ganna in the break and watching on as Visma-Lease a Bike and Soudal Quick-Step squared off against each other for the overall win. However, with just under 40km to go, disaster struck for Sheffield when his front wheel punctured. The incident took place at possibly the worst moment in the race, with the peloton strung out and Wout van Aert on the rampage.

Rather than panic, Sheffield kept his cool and rode on as assistance in the form of Geraint Thomas arrived. The former Tour de France winner sacrificed his race bike for Sheffield’s with the team cars too far back, and it looked as though a miracle chase would pay off.

When Thomas linked up with Sheffield in one of the many groups on the road, a return to the peloton still wasn’t out of the question. However, with the relentless pace up ahead, and the organisers not allowing team cars in between the yellow jersey peloton of Remco Evenepoel and the Sheffield group, the chase effectively ended.

Read more: Remco Evenepoel survives Wout van Aert onslaught and climbing mechanical to win Volta ao Algarve

At the summit of the first ascent of the Alto do Malhão the gap was already over a minute, and by the final climb and the finish line Sheffield was just over four minutes down. He finished 24th on the stage, and dropped out of the final top 10.

“Unfortunately, I just punctured the front wheel at a really bad moment in the race, not that there’s ever a good moment but it certainly wasn’t the best, right before we came into the final climb for the first time,” Sheffield told the media at the finish.

“Luckily Geraint was able to give me his bike, so I rode that for a bit, and then I could switch back onto my bike and chase but unfortunately, the officials made a barrage and then, unfortunately, I’m just not strong enough to close that big of a gap when I got a flat tyre. It’s unfortunate but that’s part of racing.

“I think Wout made an acceleration on a cobbled section with Ben Healy through this small village, so it was strung out there, but we were able to bring it back into control and then Quick-Step tried to chase as well, but unfortunately [that’s] part of racing. I think I owed it to my teammates and team, and I can’t just give up like that, it’s not over til it’s over.”

Despite a bruising day dominated by bad luck, Sheffield comes away from Algarve with a solid start to the season. He was right up there in the individual time trial, and is well on course to make his Grand Tour debut at the Giro d’Italia later this year.

“Yeah, I can be happy with my preparation, I still miss a bit, especially on that second climb. I have some learning for this race, and I’m just excited for the rest of the season.”