Rohan Dennis continued his path to his biggest goal of the season, the Tokyo Olympics, by finishing second in the final time trial of the Volta ao Algarve, his second stage race as Team Ineos.

He finished Lagoa 10 seconds behind overall winner Remco Evenpole of Dečuninck-Quick Step.

Denis, who waited backstage before accepting the team prize with his new teammate, said he was still pleased with his performance, adding that at his current rate, there was no stopping Evenpoele.

"Of course, it would have been great to win, but hats off to Lemko," Dennis told the assembled reporters. With him and me it was always going to be a close match, but today he got me."

"I think there were a few corners where we could have attacked a little harder, but we still wouldn't have won. I'm happy with my performance, especially in February."

Last September, Dennis retained his time trial world title, almost two months after his defeat in the Tour de France. On the 54-km course in Yorkshire, he beat Evenpoel by 1:09.

Sunday's 20 km stage was the second stage, but this time it was Evenpoel who turned the tables. While praising Evenpoel for his victory, Dennis said that thinking about his opponents' abilities made no difference to the outcome of the race, preferring instead to focus on his own.

"Everyone saw last year that he is always one of the best racers in the world. He was second in Yorkshire, and this year he's won every time trial." He was second in Yorkshire and has won every time trial this year."

"I keep worrying about myself and what I can do to get better.

Dennis, who has worn the rainbow band since beating Tom Dumoulin in Innsbruck two years ago, added that he does not consider himself the best time triallist in the sport.

"I don't consider myself the best time triallist in the world.

"Once you see yourself as the best in the world, you become complacent and stop pushing yourself to be better. That's my mindset and always has been."

"I'm not a time triallist.

With the early season blocks of the Tour Down Under and Volta ao Algarve over, the questions turned to Denis' future aspirations. He will compete in the Giro d'Italia in May for the first time in a year, and will attempt three time trials in Italy. There he will battle again with Evenpoel.

"Of course, it would be nice to get pink on the first day. Of course it would be nice to get pink on the first day. My goal is to win at least one time trial in the Giro. The rest depends on how things go in Calapaz."

However, it is still February, and the Grand Tour season, and top form, is far from over.

"Tokyo."