Remco Evenpole (opens in new tab) (Detunink Quickstep (opens in new tab)) defended the leader's jersey at the Volta Ao Algarve (opens in new tab) on Saturday, the second of the race atop the Alto de Marjan. He was in the lead group at the uphill finish.

The 20-year-old, who won the yellow jersey two days earlier with a dominant victory on the longer Alto da Foia, finished third in the remote hills of southern Portugal, four seconds behind stage winner Miguel Angel Lopes (Astana) and two seconds behind Dan Martin (Israel Startup Nation) conceded 2 seconds to Dan Martin (Israel Startup Nation).

Shortly after the finish, Evenepoel fell off his bike to the side of the road and lay sprawled on the ground for some time afterwards. After recovering and regaining his composure, the Belgian revealed what it took to do so.

"It was very tough and I had to fight. I looked at my power meter in the last kilometer and at one point it was over 1100 watts."

"I think the image I had after the finish was enough. But it had to be in order to save the jersey.

"The team was great today. You saw on the last lap that the three guys in the classics were still up there. It was really great and I'm proud of them."

Max Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe), in fourth place, was Evenpoel's closest competitor and tied with the race leader before the stage. The time difference remained the same, but Martin was in second place with the same time. Lopez is third, one second behind, and Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) is fifth, three seconds behind.

However, despite the close standings, Evenepoel's position is realistically much more stable, as four of them are within 30 seconds of the race lead. In Sunday's 20km time trial in Lagoa, last year's World Championships TT silver medalist and European TT champion Evenepoel should be able to hold on.

Evenepoel would not yet call the final stage his moment of triumph.

"The most important thing is that I am still the leader and tomorrow I can start the time trial in the yellow jersey.

"[Today] gave me a lot of motivation. Tomorrow I have to believe in my power and my shape. And hopefully I can bring home the yellow jersey."

Evenpoel, who won the Vuelta a San Juan earlier this month, admitted that he was impressed with his ability in Marjaon, but said that his positioning in the final kilometer prevented him from immediately following the winning move.

"I tried to follow Lopez. I had to follow 'what happens because he went for the win. When he attacked, I was in the wrong position and I couldn't react quickly enough.

"I just wanted to finish in the first group. I was able to do that and I think I impressed myself."

After impressing much of the cycling world, including himself, in the first four stages of the Volta ao Algarve, a final test awaits in Lagoa tomorrow.