Argentine Jorge Montenegro (Louletano / Dunas Douradas) established himself today as the most victorious runner in the Portuguese peloton, thanks to the triumph achieved in the second stage of the Liberty Seguros GP, at the end of the 118 kilometers starting at Lordelo, Paredes. Alejandro Marque (Carmine-Prio) is the new yellow jersey.
Despite racing for an amateur team, Montenegro beat the professionals for the third time today. The cyclist from the Algarve team beat Galician Alejandro Marque, from the professional team of Carmim-Prio-Tavira, and José Mendes (LA-Atarte), from Guimarães, second and third, respectively. The first six in the stage cut the risk with 2h51m57s, having pedaled at an average of 41,175 km/h.
The high average of the stage was the responsibility of four men, who left a group of 14 units that distanced themselves from the peloton with about a third of the stage covered. José Gonçalves (Onda-Boavista), Enrique Salgueiro (LA-Antarte), Henrique Casimiro and Válter Pereira (Carmim-Prio-Tavira) formed the quartet that led a large part of the race, forcing Efapel-Glassdrive to work to shorten distances.
The effort of Carlos Pereira's men managed to defeat the most attacking runners of the day, taking advantage of the two passages through the hard climb to Alto do Cruzeiro to put an end to the hope of glory of the fugitives, among whom José Gonçalves from Barcelona was the most insistent and the toughest.
But the work of Efapel-Glassdrive did not translate into results. The most benefited were Jorge Montenegro, winner of the stage, and Alejandro Marque, who is the new leader, due to the tiebreaker by points, since the top five in the general ranking have the same time.
Carmim-Prio-Tavira combines collective and individual leadership. Enrique Salgueiro is the first in the mountain classification and Frederico Figueiredo (Liberty Seguros/Feira/Specialized) commands the youth table.
The Liberty Seguros GP ends this Sunday with a 4,8 km chrono-climb between Santo Tirso and Monte Córdoba, in Senhora da Assunção's diapers.
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