Colin Joyce powered through the streets of Portel, Portugal, today to finish third in stage two of the Volta Alentejo. Joyce crossed the line just behind Johim Arisen (Metec - TKH Continental Cyclingteam p/b Mantel) and WorldTour rider Carlos Barbero (Movistar). The result comes a day after Matteo Dal-Cin animated the first stage as part of a two-man breakaway. With three stages left, the team will look to continue its aggressive riding and capture that elusive stage win.
Head down, Colin Joyce powers to the line to finish third on the stage
“The team did an excellent job patrolling the early moves as it took about an hour and a half for the break to finally go,” said Joyce. “It was a fast and hard start. Near the end, the team put me in a good position for the finale. I was fighting for position for the last bit, and in the sprint, I managed to sneak in for third. All in all a good day, but we are still fighting for that top step. The team rode incredibly well. They all sacrificed themselves for me and were totally selfless. I am disappointed to not get the win for them, but I think we can still be happy with a solid result out of the day.”
Joyce’s rise through the peloton has been swift. He joined Rally Cycling this year after bursting onto the scene late last year with a second place in the opening stage of the Tour of Utah and a dominating win in stage one of the Tour of Alberta. Joyce went on to hold the leader’s jersey for two days and claim both the points and best young rider competitions in Alberta. Although this is Joyce’s first podium of the season, he has already made an impression within the peloton with his all-around ability and dedication to teammates.
Adam de Vos and the rest of the team delivered Joyce to the front of the peloton in the closing kilometers
“There were several roundabouts in the final 2 kilometers and we wanted to position Colin and Pierrick well coming into the finale,” said Team Director Eric Wohlberg. “The guys lined up at six kilometers to go and delivered our guys to the front. Colin had a good run into the final turn at 400 meters to go and rolled our first top three result of the race. As always, we continue to play our cards the best we can and today we made it onto the podium.”
The result is a morale boost for the team, that despite riding aggressively, had not been rewarded with a podium placing. Rally Cycling will again look to Joyce and Pierrick Naud in stage three, a 208.8 kilometer run from Mourão to Mértola. With a flat finish it looks to be another one for the sprinters. Stage four could bring an opportunity for Junior World Time Trial Champion Brandon McNulty as the long downhill run to the line is perfect for a strong time trialist or dedicated breakaway. The Volta Alentejo ends on Sunday with a 168 kilometer stage from Ferreira do Alentejo to Évora. The jagged profile will make the race hard to control, but will provide plenty of opportunities to strike out for a stage win.
Volta Alentejo Stage 2
1. Johim Arisen (Metec - TKH Continental Cyclingteam p/b Mantel)
2. Carlos Barbero (Movistar)
3. Colin Joyce (Rally Cycling)
