Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) confirmed that it was a right decision to go back to a later start to his season when he won today's queen stage of the Volta ao Algarve. After a disastrous 2013 season, the Spaniard was happy to see that his condition is much better than it was 12 months ago and hopes that it bodes well for the coming season.

 

It was all or nothing for Tinkoff-Saxo’s Alberto Contador on today’s fourth stage of Volta ao Algarve. Being second overall with a time gap of 32 seconds to the leading rider, Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega-Pharma Quick Step) was not enough to keep the Spaniard satisfied so there was nothing to do but attack.

 

And Contador demonstrated brilliant form as he launched a solo attack on the uphill finish on the Alto do Malhao in today's queen stage. No one was able to keep up with the high pace, with world champion Rui Costa losing 3 seconds and race leader Kwiatkowski 10 seconds to the fast Spaniard.

 

Contador had asked his teammates to set a hard pace during the run-in to the climb and he was pleased to pay them back in the best possible way.

 

"I'm happy because the team worked very hard and what better way to pay back than finishing with a win," he said. "My physical condition is getting better each day and the hard work during the winter now pays off. We must continue to be focused and to do everything right and I hope the results will keep coming the next races. I want to do well all season but the goal is the Tour."

 

Being 32 seconds behind Kwiatkowski at the start of the stage, Contador decided to focus more on the stage win than the GC.

 

"This climb was too short to make a big difference," he said. "Actually, I think they ended up being pretty large but I wanted to concentrate on the stage win rather than the overall because it was difficult to create big gaps. Of course everyone would like to win the overall but Kwiatkowski is very strong and it is like this. Until now the season has been going perfectly.

 

"I set a steady pace until the last kilometre and then I did two accelerations until I saw that Kwiatkowski was on his limit. Then I kicked again and I could escape on my own.

 

"It's a finish that suits me and the problem is that people think that I have to win. But I'm happy because the team really sacrificed themselves for me and when you finish the work with a win, it leaves a very good taste in your mouth."

 

Naturally, Tinkoff-Saxo DS, Philippe Mauduit was happy about experiencing the first win of the season from team car.

 

"Not only Alberto but the whole team did an amazing job today and started putting on the pressure with 45 kilometres to go," he said. "At the foot of the uphill finish, only 8 riders were left in the first group and Alberto put the icing on the cake by pulling away in the final kilometre to take a stunning win. As said, this is a victory for the whole team but also indicates that Alberto is in better shape than at the same time last year and I think that's promising in terms of looking ahead at the rest of the season."

 

Contador is now 16 seconds away from the overall lead behind Michael Kwiatkowski in 2nd place which he is likely to keep when the race ends with a flat stage tomorrow.

 

You can read our preview of the race here.