Tom Pidcock got his own punishment after the opening stage of the Volta ao Algarve, claiming that his "push" was an instinctive move, but admitting that it was not the right action.

The Ineos Grenadiers rider was a surprise in the group sprint in Lagos, finishing fifth, but was then forced to the back of the peloton for raising his arm and pushing another rider with 200m to go.

Pidcock was moving through the pack in a chaotic sprint. He then made a left hand move through the gap and pushed Luis Mendonça aside.

Pidcock was fined and lost a stage position, but did not lose time in the overall standings and was still in contention for the overall title.

"At the end of the day, it's the same time, so it makes no difference, but I understand that," Pidcock told Cycling News at the start of the second stage of the Volta ao Algarve.

"In that situation, it was just instinctive. In that situation, it was just instinctive.

"It's my first race of the year and I'm used to training and I think I did that when I was training with my friends. I think I need to use my elbows more, but when you weigh less than 60 kilos it's pretty hard to use that weight."

Nevertheless, Pidcock's participation in a serious group sprint suggests that he is off to a good start for his 2023 road racing debut.

The British star forfeited his cyclocross world title defense earlier this month to prepare for the Classics.

"It's important to see every day as an opportunity to race," Pidcock said. [Yesterday was good. Yesterday was good. There were big guys, it was a little crazy, it was chaotic, but it was all good. Every day is a chance to gain experience, and I use it almost like training.

"The goal was to be better prepared for the road season.

The true indicator of Pidcock's form will come on Thursday at Alto de Foia, one of the two uphill finishes that form the Volta ao Algarve, before the time trial on the final day.