Victory for a prime specialist like Remco Evenepoel within the Volta ao Algarve time trial on Saturday could have been broadly predicted, but it surely couldn’t overshadow an nearly equally spectacular TT efficiency for runner-up Magnus Sheffield.
Whereas the American fell simply 16 seconds in need of delivering what would have been a colossal upset and beating the Belgian, Sheffield nonetheless completed forward of rather more established stars of the calibre of 2022 Algarve time trial winner Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Ineos teammate Filippo Ganna, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Stefan Bissegger (EF Training-EasyPost)
If Sheffield couldn’t add a second TT victory to his palmares after one he took within the Tour of Denmark a few years again, second on the Algarve nonetheless each augurs properly for his season and, at 21, even past that.
“I am undoubtedly dissatisfied but it surely’s a great type of disappointment, simply must put within the work and preserve going for subsequent time,” Sheffield advised a small group of reporters afterwards.
“It is a huge 12 months with the Olympics developing, so each one in every of these time trials counts.”
Talking later to Cyclingnews, Sheffield stated that his technique on the rolling 22-kilometre course had been to make a quick begin on an early uphill after which attempt to maintain on so long as potential.
“I got here out of the beginning fairly rapidly, there was fairly a tough uphill drag proper out of the gate, and it was actually nearly staying as low and aero as potential in these quick sections,” he stated.
“There have been fairly a number of technical corners and roundabouts, some fairly soiled corners, and I simply tried to take care in these and maximize each little bit of the course I might.”
“I needed to search out seconds on each nook, and hopefully I might come out quickest.”
Relatively than use reference factors from different teammates, Sheffield stated that all through the course he had been “going off my very own emotions. I did a number of laps this morning, and I additionally reconned the course the Tuesday earlier than the race.”
“I do not actually like understanding how I examine to others as a result of it is not that helpful finally, I simply wish to know what’s coming forward of me and what I must deal with.”
Sitting within the scorching seat with the race speaker repeatedly asserting he had the quickest time was certainly a pleasurable feeling, however when a Soudal-QuickStep soigneur arrived and commenced setting issues up for Evenepoel to heat down in one other nook of the tents subsequent to the winner’s podium, even earlier than the Belgian had accomplished the course, there was one thing of a sense of inevitability about Sheffield ending the day in second at finest.
However regardless of Evenepoel coming dwelling 16 seconds forward, Sheffield remained second total on the stage, and his eighth place on GC means he’s now heading the Finest Younger Riders rating as properly.
Sheffield stated later that it was exhausting to have reference factors earlier than a race itself by way of how properly his winter coaching might examine – “you by no means actually know”, he succinctly put it – he did have the feeling that the Ineos low season coaching camp in Denia, Spain had been very productive.
“I did some good work on the TT bike there, we had some Classics guys, some guys who’re right here, others I will not see til the subsequent offseason, however I felt the time we spent in Denia was actually good, Â and hopefully I can proceed placing collectively some good time trials,” he reasoned.
“It is good to get a end result early within the season, so you’re feeling like you might be getting one thing out of exhausting work, however generally have to recollect it is not like that and it’s a must to proceed to push with that arduous work in order that ultimately it might probably come round.”
When it comes to what’s to come back in a key 12 months for Sheffield, the World Championships is a giant objective, he stated, even when the Olympics, for which he nonetheless has to qualify, are a good greater one, given “they solely happen each 4 years and Los Angeles would be the subsequent one”. Not solely that, Sheffield may also debut at his first Grand Tour within the Giro d’Italia in 2024 and participate in Tirreno-Adriatico as properly.
The second place on the Volta ao Algarve could quickly fade within the rear mirror given he is acquired such main targets developing, then. However as a reference level, second behind the reigning World Time Trial Champion will nonetheless certainly stay a really promising step in the appropriate course.
