Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Michal Kwiatkowski achieved his objective of protecting the yellow jersey, finishing 3rd on the queen stage of Volta ao Algarve on Saturday.
The Polish rider was ahead with all the big GC contenders on the climb, but Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) went on to win the stage that finished on Alto do Malhão. Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) was 2nd. This stage was expected to be the chance for a GC shift, but Kwiatkowski was able to defend his overall leadership with his podium placement.
There were several attacks in the last kilometers, but the peloton neutralized all of them as they headed toward the final climb.
Kwiatkowski and OPQS look next to a final 155.8km Stage 5 on Sunday.
"It was a hard day," Kwiatkowski said. "The pace was really high, but I had so much support from my teammates. We were controlling the whole race. I am thankful to them because without them I couldn't defend the jersey. Guys like Rui Costa and Alberto Contador, they really wanted to win and even take the jersey from me. So it was a real fight to the finish. It was not easy, as that climb was really steep and the tempo at the end was not easy to follow. I was trying to keep the wheel of Contador, but he always was looking back to see how I felt based on how I looked. He was always changing the rhythm, and at about 250 meters I was suffering. I really wanted to even win the stage, but I maybe wanted it too much and paid for it near the top of the climb. Still, I defended the jersey and that was the main goal. To finish 3rd with guys like that, and stay the leader, I am happy. It was a good lesson for me today and there's one more stage tomorrow. We will do our best for a good stage result, and maybe also win the overall for the second year in a row."