Bernhard Eisel won the fifth and final stage at the Volta ao Algarve and Stijn Devolder claimed the general classification triumph.

High Road sprinter Eisel was part of a nine-man break-away along the 193.5-km trip from Vila do Bispo to Portimao before easily powering his way to victory in the finale.

Eisel and Diego Caccia took off after 30 kilometres of riding before being joined by seven other riders.

With less than ten kilometres left to ride the lead was 45 seconds, as the barodeurs staved off late attacks from the peloton.

Eisel ultimately claimed a solo three-second victory from Portugal's Rui Costa, with another Portuguese rider Celestino Pinho claiming the third step on the podium.

Quick Step held off several attacks over the course of the final stage to help Belgim's Devolder finish with the main group at 20 seconds behind Eisel to claim the overall win.

Devolder took the lead in the race after winning Saturday's stage four time trial.

STAGE FOUR

Stijn Devolder is on course for overall victory in the Volta ao Algarve after winning the penultimate stage.

The Belgian rider claimed top spot in a 34km time trial, posting a time of 35:33 on the route from Castro Marim to Tavira.

That was 22 seconds quicker than Cofidis' Sylvain Chavanel and Devolder holds the same overall lead over the French rider entering Sunday's final stage, a 193.5km run from Vila do Bispo to Portimao that features three third category climbs.

Overnight leader Robert Forster was down in 47th while his German compatriot and former Tour de France runner-up Andreas Kloden was seventh, over a minute back, for Astana.

STAGE THREE

Veteran German sprinter Robert Forster returned to winning ways on day three of the Volta ao Algarve in Loulé.

The Gerolsteiner man, who won the opening stage, was too quick for Belgian Jurgen Roelandts (Silence-Lotto), Frenchman Lilian Jegou (Française des Jeux) and the Portuguese Bruno Neves (LA-MSS) at the end of the 207.7km stage from Vila Real de Santo Antonio.

Forster holds an 11 second lead over Tomas Vaitkus (Astana) on GC going into Saturday's penultimate stage, a 34km individual time trial.

STAGE TWO

Tomas Vaitkus turned the tables on Robert Forster in the second stage of the Volta ao Algarve in Lagos.

Forster edged out Vaitkus in the opening stage but this time the Lithuanian from the Astana team took the victory by half a bike's length following a 189.5km ride from Lagoa.

Gerolsteiner veteran Forster retains a one second lead over Vaitkus on general classification courtesy of bonus seconds gained at intermediate sprints.

Jarno van Mingeroet (Mitsubishi-Jartazi), Preben van Hecke (Topsport Vlaanderen), Edgar Anão (Fercase-Rota dos Móveis) and Krassimir Vasilev (Palmeiras Resort-Tavira) launched an attack 100km from home and gained 11 and a half minutes on the peloton but were reeled back in the closing stages by the sprinters' teams.

STAGE ONE

Veteran German sprinter Robert Forster won the opening stage of the Volta ao Algarve in Faro.

The Gerolsteiner man beat Tomas Vaitkus (Astana) and German compatriot Erik Zabel to the line in a sprint finish at the end of the 164.6km trip from Albufeira.

Joaquim Gregório (CC Loulé), Paul Sneeboer (Palmeiras Resort-Tavira), Bruno Barbosa (Fercase-Rota dos Móveis), António Amorim (Barbot-Siper), António Cosme (Madeinox-Boavista) and Matheus Pronk (Cycle Collstrop) attacked early on with Spaniard Cosme crossing the second and third category climbs en-route ahead.

But they were reeled in by an active peloton and Forster will wear the yellow jersey when the five-day race, featuring eight ProTour teams, continues with a 190km trek from Lagoa to Lagos on Thursday.

Eurosport