On the final day of the Volta ao Algarve, overall leader Remco Evenpole (Detunink-Quick Step) won the final time trial, marking his second stage race victory of 2020.

The Belgian, who was expected to win the overall ahead of Max Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe), did just that, finishing 38 seconds behind the 20km course in Lagoa.

Even more surprising was that he finished 10 seconds ahead of Rohan Dennis (Team Ineos), who beat him by 1:09 in last year's Yorkshire World Championship time trial.

"It's very hard to beat Rohan Dennis," said Dennis. In the general classification you just had to go as fast as possible. A stage win is a bonus too."

On a course with a mix of technical sections and hills, Evenepoel did not have to take any risks to win the stage, but he was fast from the start, setting the fastest times at both checkpoints and topping the leaderboard by 15 seconds at each checkpoint.

"I'm really happy with this win," he said. I started pretty early because I knew I was going to be running full gas for 20km and I knew I needed to recover on the downhills and hilly sections. So I started pretty early because I knew I would need to recover on the downhills and hilly sections."

." The communication with the team car was perfect, I knew all the corners and the potholes, and it was a good day."

The 20-year-old explained that he sent a message to his girlfriend, Oumaima Rayan, earlier to let her know it was going to work out, and continued: before getting dressed, he told "Oumi" that today was going to shine for us. When I say things like that, it usually ends up being a close call."

Evenpoel's first big target for 2020 is set for the Giro d'Italia, where he will make his debut in two months. Earlier this week, he said he was "not in the best shape yet" and told team boss Patrick Lefebvre that he could lose 2 kg by May.

A better Evenpoel awaits him at the start of the Giro in Budapest.

"The Volta ao Algarve is not a three-week race like the Giro. 'It's something completely different. Right now I'm just working hard to reach my goal. I'm not at my best yet, but I have time and I'm aiming for the best form. I'm happy with where I'm at

"Next up is Tirreno - Adriatico. Step by step, race by race, I'm progressing. Tokyo is still far away.

"This was my first time in Portugal and I really enjoyed it. The weather was great, the roads were good, and I'm glad I could race here. First, Fabio (Jacobsen) won the stage and I won the yellow. Then I took control and brought home the stage win and the yellow jersey. It was perfect."