Primoz Roglic raced to second behind Daniel Martin (Quick Step) in the Volta ao Algarve’s second stage up the Alto de Fóia in Portugal. Martin took the lead and LottoNL-Jumbo’s captain sits at four seconds.

"I race to win, but I can be happy with my level,” Roglic said. “Second place proves that I am doing well, Martin was just slightly stronger today. I gave everything on the climb and tried to attack a number of times, but I could not lose him."

Last week, Roglic placed third in the Vuelta a Valenciana and showed that he is already at a high level of fitness.

"I am at a good level. My good form is there and I want to do everything to show that. I do my best, and this was the result. This gives us confidence for the next few days.

“It was a tough day and the team helped me today. Tomorrow, we have to do our best in the time trial again."

‘Race for the win’

Sports Director Frans Maassen had seen this day coming for the young Slovenian and former ski jumper.

"Last year, Primoz did a good job here and we had high hopes that he could do it again this year,” Maassen said. “His training went well so we expect that he would race for the victory. Of course that brings pressure with it, but Roglic shows that he is able to deal with it in a good way.

"From the car, I constantly coached him and told him he needed to race for the win. Daniel Martin still had much explosiveness, but it's never fun to lose. I think Primoz did what he had to do."