'A positive to have two strong riders' - Red Bull's dual GC threat ready for Fóia showdown in the Algarve

Domestique caught up with Red Bull Sports Director Francisco Javier Vila at the finish to reflect on the opening day of racing in Portugal.

“I think we need to be happy with second place with Jordi [Meeus]. I think [Paul] Magnier was simply better today, simply faster. I think we did everything well today, and yeah, that’s it. I’m happy with how the team rode today,” Vila told Domestique.

Meanwhile, Florian Lipowitz and Daniel Felipe Martínez finished safely inside the peloton, and both will now turn their attention to a crucial GC stage on Thursday. The stage finishes atop the Alto da Fóia, but not the same ascent to the summit that the race has used in recent years. 

Lipowitz’s Tour de France podium last summer was a prime indication of what the talented German is capable of, though he is making his debut at the Volta ao Algarve. The same can’t be said for the Colombian Martínez, who has impressively finished on every step of the podium at the race across his three participations in the Volta ao Algarve from 2022 to 2024.

Vila was asked about the dynamic of having two riders, both capable of strong performances in the GC this week. 

“I mean, it’s a positive to have two leaders, two strong riders, so we will manage it, not a problem,” said Vila. “We have different strategies based on different scenarios, and we will adapt to that.”

Things can change in a heartbeat, as demonstrated by Maxim Van Gils’ crash at the recent Clásica Jaén, ruling the Belgian out for his upcoming targets with a fractured pelvis. 

Consequently, Vila admitted the team is only putting one step forward at a time this week in Portugal when asked about what he hopes to get out of the race ahead of the major spring targets. 

“If you see what happened to Maxim Van Gils, then you know what I mean. We want to just focus here, and I think the team has started very well this season, and we want to keep that momentum,” said Vila. 

“That means to be in the fight, to be fighting for the race, and I think we have the luxury of having a chance every day. Today with Jordi [Meeus], tomorrow with Dani [Martínez] and Lipo [Lipowitz], then we have the time trial, another sprint, and the final GC stage.”

Ultimately, the objective is to be competitive on all fronts and continue the positive start to the 2026 season. “So we take it day by day, and we want to always be a protagonist, fighting for the GC and for stages.”