Magnus Cort wins uphill finish with last minute bike throw

Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost) came out of nowhere in the closing 100m on Stage 2 of the Tour of Algarve to snatch victory from Van Wilder

Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step) who sprinted long and hard thought he had it and raisied his arms to celebrate when the sneaky Dane threw his bike across the line.

Cort motored left side finding a small gap after being boxed in with 150m to go.

“I was lucky to come clear and in the last five meters I came clear. It was super nice,” Cort said. “I was thinking about this stage, and I didn’t know if I could make it up this climb. One thing is trying, but it is really amazing to win with the main GC riders from the bunch.”

Cort snagged the win in impressive manner much to the disappointment of Van Wilder with Rui Costa (Intermarche-Circus-Wanty) crossing the line in third place.

“I know I am quite good in finishes like this, so I went from quite far. In the end, I thought I won,” Van Wilder said. “I didn’t celebrate too soon, but I celebrated on the finish line. I lost by the thickness of a tire in front of me. It is a pity, but what I can do about it?”

A six-rider break pulled away early in the stage. The speed ramped with Ineos Grenadiers putting on the pressure. Wednesday’s winner and overnight leader Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X) was among the many riders who were dropped just before the final climb.

Michal Kwiatkowski set the pace for Ineos Grenadiers, with the peloton lined up behind him. The peloton slipped out the back with about 40 riders left.

The race jury has relegated Tom Pidcock to last in the bunch sprint (135th stating that Pidcock was put back because of an "irregular sprint". In addition to being put back in the result, Pidcock has also been fined two hundred Swiss francs

VIDEO: 2023 Volta ao Algarve Stage 2 Finale

2023 Volta ao Algarve GC after Stage 2

1  CORT Magnus EF Education-EasyPost 9:56:20
2  VAN WILDER Ilan Soudal - Quick Step 0:04
3  COSTA Rui Intermarché - Circus - Wanty 0:06
4  HINDLEY Jai BORA - hansgrohe 0:10
5  MADOUAS Valentin Groupama - FDJ ,,
6  FOSS Tobias Jumbo-Visma 0:12
7  MOLLEMA Bauke Trek - Segafredo ,,
8  CONCI Nicola Alpecin-Deceuninck ,,
9  ALMEIDA João UAE Team Emirates ,,
10  HIGUITA Sergio BORA - hansgrohe ,,

2023 Volta ao Algarve Stage 2 Top 10

1  CORT Magnus EF Education-EasyPost 5:07:05
2  VAN WILDER Ilan Soudal - Quick Step 0:00
3  COSTA Rui Intermarché - Circus - Wanty 0:00
4  MADOUAS Valentin Groupama - FDJ 0:01
5  HINDLEY Jai BORA - hansgrohe 0:01
6  HERREGODTS Rune Intermarché - Circus - Wanty 0:02
7  CONCI Nicola Alpecin-Deceuninck 0:03
8  PIDCOCK Thomas INEOS Grenadiers 0:03
9  VERMAERKE Kevin Team DSM 0:03
10  MOLLEMA Bauke Trek - Segafredo 0:03