Sky win-win as Froome takes victory in Spain and Thomas prevails in Portugal

Team Sky are celebrating a double victory after clinching the overall win in two European early season stage races, with Chris Froome edging out Alberto Contador to win the Ruta del Sol, and Geraint Thomas taking the Volta ao Algarve.

While Froome’s success represents a psychological victory on the Spaniard’s home soil before the pair lock horns in July’s Tour de France, Thomas’s win is just his third in a stage race, with the Welshman having previously won the Bayern Rundfahrt twice.

The 28-year-old took the lead in Portugal after winning Stage 2 of the race from the break on Thursday.

On Saturday's queen stage, won by team mate Richie Porte – a previous winner of the event in Sky colours – Thomas comfortably kept the yellow jersey.

Following Sunday’s concluding stage, won in a bunch sprint by Lotto-Soudal’s André Greipel, Thomas topped the General Classification by 27 seconds from world champion Michal Kwiatkowski of Etixx-Quick Step.

Sports director Gabriel Rasch told the Team Sky website: “It’s been easy this week with those guys. They are sacrificing everything for each other and it really shows the team spirit. Me and Kurt [Arvesen] are really, really proud to be a part of it.

Elsewhere on the Iberian Peninsula, Froome was putting down an early season marker against Contador, with both men getting their 2015 campaigns following the disappointment of crashing out of the Tour de France last year.

The Team Sky rider distanced Contador on yesterday’s penultimate stage to move a second ahead of the Tinkoff-Saxo man in the overall standings and take the red jersey of race leader.

This afternoon, Froome finished sixth – and crucially, ahead of Contador – to seal his overall win in a stage won by Movistar’s Juan Jose Lobato.

Froome, who also took the points jersey, said: “It wasn’t as easy as I’d imagined and the racing was full on today. It was windy, but I’m really happy with how the guys performed out there – they supported me all the way through and I’m delighted to get this win for them.

“It couldn’t have gone any better for us out here, and this win’s special as it’s my first race of the season. That said, I still have a lot to build on as we head towards the Tour de France. I want to stay on this path, staying healthy and injury-free, and gradually building my form.

“No win comes easily – you have to work for them – and I’m grateful to my wife, and my team for helping to get me in this position. It’s such a privilege to have that infrastructure behind me.”

Froome added: “This week’s been a huge morale boost for everyone in the team, not just here but in the Algarve as well. Richie winning yesterday and Geraint taking the GC has given us all a great buzz. We’re doing really well and hopefully we can build on that heading into this next phase of racing.”