Ilan Van Wilder insisted that the result made no difference, but admitted that his premature celebration of the second stage of the Volta ao Algarve had hurt his pride.

"It's a bit silly, but I can't help it now," he told Cycling News at the summit finish of the Alto da Foia.

"I'm disappointed. That's all I can say."

Van Wilder attacked early as 20 riders survived the final 7.5km climb and scrambled for the line. Despite a headwind on the final bend, he held his speed and cruised to his first professional victory.

He celebrated it, but as he raised his right arm, he looked to his left and saw a flash of pink. Magnus Korto (EF Education - Easy Post) had somehow managed to snatch victory.

"I celebrated, but then I saw Cort wheeling to the finish line. It's a real shame," Van Wilder said.

Whether the celebration was just an embarrassing mistake or an early post-up led to a more maddening result that robbed him of the win, we will never know. Van Wilder appeared to have his arm up just short of the line, but Cote, who had the inside line, produced a dramatic bike throw.

Often margins are not a problem at this level, but Van Wilder has no regrets left, at least for now.

"I think I blessed on the line. I don't think it was too early.

"Of course we are disappointed. We always want to win and I think I did everything perfectly. I attacked very early because I knew that if I waited too long there would be someone faster than me.

"I thought I had won, but then I realized I didn't. It's a shame, but that's life."

Nevertheless, Van Wilder was able to take confidence from his performance and optimism for a strong overall finish in the Volta ao Algarve. Saturday's fourth stage will feature a short but steep summit finish in Malhao before the final day's time trial (24km).

The 22-year-old Belgian rider is in his second season with Sûre-Quick Step after leaving DSM early, and has finished in the top five in time trials at the 2021 Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphiné.

"Apart from the GC, I'm looking forward to the time trial.

"Last year I didn't do many TTs and when I did, like in the Vuelta, I had to ride easy because I was helping Lemko (Evenpole) in the GC. So I'm looking forward to riding at full throttle in the TT again."