Ethan Hayter overcame a painful crash in Saturday's time trial to stretch his lead at the Volta ao Algarve.
Hayter started the day on the same time as Joao Rodrigues and Jonathan Lastra but was on course to build a healthy advantage until the Ineos Grenadiers rider got his angles wrong on a dusty left-hander midway around the 20.3km circuit in Lagoa.
Even so, the 22-year-old picked himself up to finish ninth on a stage won by Kasper Asgreen, crossing the line bloodied and bruised but now with a lead of 12 seconds from Rodrigues, with Asgreen up to third, 21 seconds down.
If there are no lasting affects, Hayter will now look to seal his first general classification win for the Grenadiers in Sunday’s lumpy final stage to Malhao.
