Remco Evenepoel destroys his rivals in Algarve Time Trial
Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) tooks commanding lead in the Volta ao Algarve after a dominant display in stage four time trial
The young Belgian beat Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) by 58 seconds over the 32.2km course. Ineos' Ethan Hayter came third, eight seconds down on Kung.
Evenepoel also took the race lead, 1m 6s ahead of Ethan Hayter, with America's Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) putting in an impressive time trial and keep a podium place in third,
Glassdrive Q8 Anicolors’ Rafael Reis hit the hotseat with a time of 41m 15s.
Britain's Geraint Thomas went faster and was happy with his form, but it was Trek-Segafredo’s Daan Hoole who blitzed the course sub-40, beating the former Tour de France champion rider by nearly two minutes.
Groupama-FDJ’s Stefan Küng unsurpisingly went even faster 38-47, while Ethan Hayter, Tobias Foss, Brandon McNulty and Dani Martínez all posted fast times looking to secure their top 10 podium places overall.
But it was Evenepoel who went even faster taking nine seconds off of the Swiss’ time at the first checkpoint, 42 seconds at the second, eventually taking out more than a minute by the finish line.
Tomorrow's final stage will be one not to miss, which will see the return of the double climb at Malhão and finish on it second time round.
VIDEO: Stage 4 Time Trial Highlights
Stage 4 Top 10
1. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, in 37-49
2. Stefan Küng (Sui) Groupama-FDJ, at 58 seconds
3. Ethan Hayter (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1-06
4. Tobias Foss (Nor) Jumbo-Visma, at 1-11
5. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates, at 1-25
6. Thibault Guernalec (Fra) Arkéa-Samsic, at 1-27
7. Dani Martínez (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1-30
8. Daan Hoole (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 1-38
9. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 2-09
10. Connor Swift (GBr) Arkéa-Samsic, at 2-12
2. Stefan Küng (Sui) Groupama-FDJ, at 58 seconds
3. Ethan Hayter (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1-06
4. Tobias Foss (Nor) Jumbo-Visma, at 1-11
5. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates, at 1-25
6. Thibault Guernalec (Fra) Arkéa-Samsic, at 1-27
7. Dani Martínez (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1-30
8. Daan Hoole (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 1-38
9. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 2-09
10. Connor Swift (GBr) Arkéa-Samsic, at 2-12
GC after Stage 4
1. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, in 15-20-01
2. Ethan Hayter (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1-06
3. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates, at 1-25
4. Dani Martínez (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1-30
5. Stefan Küng (Sui) Groupama-FDJ, at 1-43
6. Tobias Foss (Nor) Jumbo-Visma, at 1-51
7. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 2-08
8. Thibault Guernalec (Fra) Arkéa-Samsic, at same time
9. Dylan van Baarle (Ned) Ineos Grenadiers, at 2-37
10. Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
2. Ethan Hayter (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1-06
3. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates, at 1-25
4. Dani Martínez (Col) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1-30
5. Stefan Küng (Sui) Groupama-FDJ, at 1-43
6. Tobias Foss (Nor) Jumbo-Visma, at 1-51
7. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 2-08
8. Thibault Guernalec (Fra) Arkéa-Samsic, at same time
9. Dylan van Baarle (Ned) Ineos Grenadiers, at 2-37
10. Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux