Two cyclists whose history is linked to Tavira can mark the 74th edition of the Volta a Portugal by Bike, which today begins in Castelo Branco, with a very short 2,2 km route on the city's streets.
They are David Blanco, a four-time Volta winner, three of them with Tavira, and Ricardo Mestre, the Algarvian from the Gilão city club, who last year succeeded the Spaniard in the final conquest of the yellow jersey.
By the way, the two runners know each other very well, as they have been military together in Tavira. When Blanco was the star of Tavira, Mestre was one of the cyclists who contributed the most to his victories, in the team's strategy.
This year, not least for being the winner of the Volta a Portugal title, but also for being much younger than Blanco (Efapel-Glassdrive), Ricardo Mestre seems to have an advantage, from the start, over his former teammate.
As happened last year, the Algarvian won the last major test before the calendar's premier event, the 2012 Joaquim Agostinho Trophy, a triumph that could be the harbinger of the success of 2011.
This year, Mestre will compete in Volta as head of the line, supported by “captain” Nelson Vitorino, as well as by the rest of the squad, complemented by Samuel Caldeira, Alejandro Marque, Tomás Metcalfe, Henrique Casimiro, David Livramento, João Pereira, and Amaro Antunes.
The sports director of Carmim-Prio-Tavira leaves no doubt about the goals of the Algarve: «the main objective is to try to fight for victory again. For now Ricardo is the winner of the last Volta a Portugal, he is one of the main favorites, so we will bet on him».
Vidal Fitas knows David Blanco well: «because of David's past and the fact that we know him well, we have a more precise idea of what he can be worth in Volta throughout the days».
This year, the team from Tavira has lost weight, that of climber André Cardoso, who was decisive in previous victories, but this season went to the Spanish team at Caja Rural and participated in the Vuelta a Espanha.
But, in addition to Mestre and Blanco, there are other candidates for the final victory in the Portuguese competition: Nuno Ribeiro, the winner of 2003 and 2009, when he lost the title by doping to Blanco, Rui Sousa, Sérgio Ribeiro, Hugo Sabido, João Cabreira, José Mendes, or, among foreigners, Victor Hugo Peña (Colombia Coldeportes), who contributed a lot to Lance Armstrong's Tour victories and wearer of the yellow jersey of the French competition for three days in the 2003 edition, and Moises Dueñas, winner of the Tour de France of the Future 2006.
In addition to these more or less obvious names, along the 1.605 kilometers that connect Castelo Branco and Lisbon, surprises may arise.
This year, and after having presented in 2011 the smallest squad since 1993, the Volta a Portugal goes out on the road with the largest number of cyclists in the last four editions.
With 17 teams registered, the return will have 149 cyclists, four less than the maximum possible, as the Brazilian team Funvic – Pinamonhangaba will only line up with seven cyclists, while the French team Saur Sojasun and the Russian team Itera Katusha will have only eight torso.
The decisive steps and the difficulties
The 74th Volta a Portugal starts on the 15th of August with a 2,2-kilometer prologue in Castelo Branco, and ends with the connection from Sintra to Lisbon, on the 26th.
The decisive points center mainly on three moments. The first takes place in the fourth stage in line, with the connection between Viana do Castelo and Mondim de Basto (Mrs. da Graça).
The eighth stage in a row that will join the city of Guarda to Seia (Serra da Estrela – Torre) is also one of the decisive moments.
Equally decisive could be the 32,4 km CRI between Pedrógão and Leiria, which takes place on the eve of the final take.
However, Vidal Fitas warns that “there are still other treacherous stages that can mess with the overall classification”, referring to the first, fifth, and seventh stages.
The first stage in line presents medium/high difficulty. There are a long 200,8 kilometers to travel between Termas de Monfortinho and Oliveira do Hospital on the 16th of August, which makes this route the longest in the Volta.
The trip includes four mountain prizes, one of which is second-rate at kilometer 173,8.
The fifth stage in line, on August 20, also of medium/high difficulty, joins Armamar and Oliveira de Azeméis and covers 176,9 kilometers.
The route also threatens difficulties with four mountain prizes, two of them second-rate.
The seventh stage is of medium difficulty and unites Gouveia and Sabugal over 185,3 kilometers.
Teams and cyclists:
Carmine-Prio (By):
1 – Ricardo Mestre, By
2 – Nelson Vitorino, By
3 – Samuel Caldeira, By
4 – Alexandre Marque, ESP
5 – Thomas Methcalfe, GB
6 – Henrique Casimiro, By
7 – David Livramento, By
8 – João Pereira, By
9 – Amaro Antunes, By
Sports Director: Vidal Fitas, By
Efapel-Glassdrive (By):
11 – David Blanco, ESP
12 – Rui Sousa, By
13 – Ricardo Vilela, By
14 – Sérgio Sousa, By
15 – Nuno Ribeiro, By
16 – César Fonte, By
17 – António Amorim, By
18 – Sérgio Ribeiro, By
19 – Filipe Cardoso, By
Sports Director: Carlos Pereira, By
LA Alumínios-Antarte(By):
21 – Vergílio Santos, By
22 – Hugo Known, By
23 – Edgar Pinto, By
24 – José Mendes, By
25 – Márcio Barbosa, By
26 – Hugo Sancho, By
27 – Bruno Silva, By
28 – João Correia, By
29 – Luís Afonso, By
Sports Director: Mário Rocha, By
Wave (By):
31 – Daniel Silva, By
32 – João Cabreira, By
33 – José Gonçalves, By
34 – Célio Sousa, By
35 – Delio Fernandez, ESP
36 – David Gutierrez, ESP
37 – Domingos Gonçalves, By
38 – Helder Oliveira, By
39 – Bruno Lima, By
Sports Director: José Santos, By
Portuguese selection:
41 – António Carvalho, By
42 – Rafael Silva, By
43 – André Mourato, By
44 – Pedro Paulinho, By
45 – Micael Isidoro, By
46 – Rafael Reis, By
47 – Ricardo Ferreira, By
48 – Bruno Saraiva, By
49 – Rui Vinhas, By
Sports Director: José Poeira, By
Funvic – Pinamonhangaba (Bra):
51 – Hector Aguilar, Uru
52 – Great Nazareth, Bra
54 – Roberto Pinheiro, Brazil
55 – Tiago Fiorilli, Brazil
57 – Gregory Panizo, Brazil
58 – Otavio Bulgareli, Brazil
59 – Pedro Nicácio, Brazil
Sports Director: Benedito Júnior, Bra
Rural Caja (Esp):
61 – Karol Domagalski, Pol
62 – Yelko Gomez, Pur
63 – Enzo Moyano, Arg
64 – Francesco Lasca, Ita
65 – David de La Cruz, Esp.
66 – Jesus del Pino, Esp
67 – Fabrizio Ferrari, Uru
68 – Bravo Garikoitz, Esp
69 – Alexander Riabkin, Russia
Sporting Director: Eugenio Goikoetxea, Esp
Andalucia (Esp):
71 – Jose Luis Cano, ESP
72 – Jose Luis Roldán, ESP
73 – Jose Aguilar, Esp.
74 – Roman Osuna, Esp
75 – Andres Vigil, Esp
76 – Fran Clavijo, Esp
77 – Eloy Ruiz, ESP
78 – Antonio Cabello, ESP
79 – Jordi Simon, ESP
Sporting Director: Joaquin Leon, Arg
Continental Orbea (Esp):
81 – Mikel Bizkarra, ESP
82 – Xavier Zabalo, ESP
83 – Aritz Etxebarria, Esp
84 – Aritz Bagües, Esp
85 – Omar Fraile, Esp
86 – Carlos Barbero, ESP
87 – Jon Aberasturi, Esp
88 – Igor Merino, ESP
89 – Illart Zuazubiskar, Esp
Sporting Director: Artiz Arberas, Esp
Burgos-BH/Castilla and Leon (Esp):
91 – Joni Brandão, By
92 – Moses Dueñas, Esp
93 – David Belda, ESP
94 – Pascual Orengo, ESP
95 – Nicolas Capdepuy, Fra
96 – Oscar Santamaria, ESP
97 – Manuel Anton, ESP
98 – Luis Mas Bonet, ESP
99 – Pablo Torres, ESP
Sports Director: Diego Gallego, Esp
Colombia Coldeportes (Col):
101 – Darwin Atapuma, Col.
102 – Javier Gonzalez, Col.
103 – Wilson Marentes, Col.
104 – Juan Forero, Col.
105 – Dalivier Ospina, Col.
106 – Victor Hugo Pena, Col
107 – Carlos Quintero, Col.
108 – Juan Suarez, Col.
109 – Duber Quintero, Col.
Sports Director: Valerio Tebaldi, Ita.
Saur Sojasun (Fra):
111 - Cyril Bessy, Fra
112 - Christophe Laborie, Fra
113 – Brice Feillu, Fra
114 – Jean Marino, Fra
115 – Jean Paiani, Fra
116 – Maxime Mederel, Fra
117 – Paul Poux, Fra
118 – Stéphane Pouhlies, Fra
Sporting Director: Nicolas Guille, Fra
United Healthcare (USA):
121 - Marc de Maar, Aho
122 – Kai Reus, Hol
123 – Boy Van Poppel, Hol
124 – Davide Frattini, Ita
125 – Jonathan Clarke, Australia
126 – Jason McCartney, USA
127 – Bradley White, USA
128 – Jay Thomson, AFs
129 – Hilton Clarke, Australia
Sporting Director: Hendrik Redant, Hol
Itera Katusha (Rus):
131 – Pavel Kochetkov, Russia
132 - Dmitriy Kosyakov, Rus
133 - Dmitry Mokrov, Rus
134 – Alexander Rybakov, Russia
135 – Andrei Solomennikov, Russia
136 – Igor Boev, Russia
137 – Alexandr Prishpetnyy, Russia
138 – Maxim Pokidov, Russia
Sporting Director: Alexey Shchebelin, Rus
Lokosphinx (Rus):
141 – Mikhail Antonov, Russia
142 – Sergey Belykh, Russia
143 – Alexey Kunshin, Russia
144 - Pavel Ptashkin, Rus
145 – Kirill Sveshnikov, Russia
146 – Evgeny Shalunov, Russia
147 – Sergey Shilov, Russia
148 – Dmitry Sokolov, Russia
149 – Alexey Rybalkin, Russia
Sporting Director: Alexander Kuznetsov, Rus
MTN Kubeka (Afs):
151 – Dennis Van Niekerk, AFs
152 – Jacques Van Rensburg, Afs.
153 - Jacobus Venter, Afs
154 - Meron Rusom, Eri
155 – Jani Weldegabir, Eri
156 – Tesfay Habtemariam, Eri
157 – Frekalsi Debesai, Eri
158 – Tsgabu Grmay, Eti
159 – Reinardt Van Rensburg, AFs
Sporting Director: Jens Zemke, Afs
Beautiful Team (Afs):
161 - Darren Lill, Afs
162 – Johann Rabie, Afs
163 – Ian McLeod, AFs
164 – Hanco Kachelhoffer, Afs
165 – Herman Fouche, Afs.
166 – Fighting Kaka, Afs
167 – Jason Bakke, Afs
168 – Hendrik Kruger, Afs
169 – Stefan Ihlenfeldt, AFs
Sporting Director: Barry Austin, Afs
Winners:
2011 Ricardo Mestre, By (Tavira-Prio, By)
2010 David Blanco, Esp (Palmeiras Resort-Prio, Por)
2009 David Blanco, Esp (Palmeiras Resort-Prio, Por)
2008 David Blanco, Esp (Palmeiras Resort-Tavira, Por)
2007 Xavier Tondo, Esp (LA-MSS, By)
2006 David Blanco, Esp (Comunitat Valenciana, Esp)
2005 Vladimir Efimkin, Rus (Barloworld, UK)
2004 David Bernabéu, Esp (Milaneza-Maia, Por)
2003 Nuno Ribeiro, By (LA-Pecol, By)
2002 Claus Moller, Din (Milaneza-MSS, Por)
2001 Fabian Jeker, Sui (Milaneza-MSS, By)
2000 Vítor Gamito, By (Porta da Ravessa, By)
1999 David Plaza, Esp (Benfica, Por)
1998 Marco Serpellini, Ita (Brescialat-Liquigas, Ita)
1997 Zenon Jaskula, Pol (Mapei, Ita)
1996 Massimiliano Lelli, Ita (Saeco, Ita)
1995 Orlando Rodrigues, By (Artiach, Esp)
1994 Orlando Rodrigues, By (Artiach, Esp)
1993 Joaquim Gomes, By (Recer-Boavista, By)
1992 Cássio Freitas, Bra (Recer-Boavista, Por)
1991 Jorge Silva, By (Sicasal-Acral, By)
1990 Fernando Carvalho, By (Ruqita-Fairense, By)
1989 Joaquim Gomes, By (Sicasal-Torreense, By)
1988 Cayn Theakston, Ing (Louletano-Vale de Lobo, Por)
1987 Manuel Cunha, By (Sicasal-Torreense, By)
1986 Marco Chagas, Por (Sporting, Por)
1985 Marco Chagas, Por (Sporting, Por)
1984 Venceslau Fernandes, By (Ajacto, By)
1983 Marco Chagas, Por (FC Porto, Por)
1982 Marco Chagas, Por (FC Porto, Por)
1981 Manuel Zeferino, Por (FC Porto, Por)
1980 Francisco Miranda, By (Blackboard, By)
1979 Joaquim Santos, By (FC Porto, By)
1978 Belmiro Silva, By (Coimbrões-Arbo, By)
1977 Adelino Teixeira, By (Plate, By)
1976 Firmino Bernardino, For (Benfica, For)
(...)
1974 Fernando Mendes, For (Benfica, For)
1973 Jesus Manzaneque, Esp (Caves Messias, By)
1972 Joaquim Agostinho, Por (Sporting, Por)
1971 Joaquim Agostinho, Por (Sporting, Por)
1970 Joaquim Agostinho, Por (Sporting, Por)
1969 Joaquim Andrade, By (Sangalhos, By)
1968 Américo Silva, By (Benfica, By)
1967 Tony Houbrechts, Bel (Flandria, Bel)
1966 Francisco Valada, For (Benfica, For)
1965 João Peixoto Alves, For (Benfica, For)
1964 Joaquim Leão, By (FC Porto, By)
1963 João Roque, Por (Sporting, Por)
1962 José Pacheco, Por (FC Porto, Por)
1961 Mário Silva, Por (FC Porto, Por)
1960 José Sousa Cardoso, By (FC Porto, By)
1959 Carlos Carvalho, By (FC Porto, By)
1958 Alves Barbosa, By (Sangalhos, By)
1957 Ribeiro da Silva, By (Academic Porto, By)
1956 Alves Barbosa, By (Sangalhos, By)
1955 Ribeiro da Silva, By (Academic Porto, By)
(...)
1952 Moreira de Sá, Por (FC Porto, Por)
1951 Alves Barbosa, By (Sangalhos, By)
1950 António Dias dos Santos, By (FC Porto, By)
1949 António Dias dos Santos, By (FC Porto, By)
1948 Fernando Moreira, By (FC Porto, By)
1947 José Martins, For (Benfica, For)
1946 José Martins, By (Iluminante, By)
(...)
1941 Francisco Inácio, By (Sporting, By)
1940 José Albuquerque, By (Sporting, By)
1939 Joaquim Fernandes, By (CUF, By)
1938 José Albuquerque, By (Campo Ourique, By)
(...)
1935 César Luís, By (Leões Alentejanos, By)
1934 José Maria Nicolau, For (Benfica, For)
1933 Alfredo Trindade, Por (Rio de Janeiro, Por)
1932 Alfredo Trindade, Por (Rio de Janeiro, Por)
1931 José Maria Nicolau, For (Benfica, For)
(...)
1927 Augusto Carvalho, By (Carcavelos, By)
– Winning ranking:
1. Marco Chagas, Por 4 (1982, 83, 85, 86)
🇧🇷 David Blanco, Esp 4 (2005, 08, 09, 10)
3. Alves Barbosa, Por 3 (1951, 56, 58)
Joaquim Agostinho, Por 3 (1970, 71, 72)
5. Alfredo Trindade, Por 2 (1932, 33)
🇧🇷 José Maria Nicolau, Por 2 (1931, 34)
🇧🇷 José Albuquerque, Por 2 (1938, 40)
🇧🇷 José Martins, Por 2 (1946, 47)
🇧🇷 António Dias dos Santos, Por 2 (1949, 50)
🇧🇷 Ribeiro da Silva, Por 2 (1955, 57)
🇧🇷 Joaquim Gomes, Por 2 (1989, 93)
🇧🇷 Orlando Rodrigues, Por 2 (1994, 95)
Route:
15 Aug, Prologue: Castelo Branco-Castelo Branco, 2,2 km (CRI).
Aug 16, 01st stage: Termas de Monfortinho-Oliveira do Hospital, 200,8 km.
Aug 17, 02nd stage: Oliveira do Bairro-Trofa, 190,7 km.
August 18, 03rd stage: Vila Nova de Cerveira-Fafe, 176,1 km.
Aug 19, 04th stage: Viana do Castelo-Mondim de Basto (Senhora da Graça), 151,9 km.
20 Aug: 05th stage: Armamar-Oliveira de Azeméis, 176,9 km.
Aug 21, 06th stage: Aveiro-Viseu, 184,1 km
22 Aug, Day of Rest.
Aug 23, 07th stage: Gouveia-Sabugal, 185,3 km
Aug 24, 08th stage: Guarda-Seia (Torre), 154,9 km.
25 Aug, 09th stage: Pedrógão-Leiria, 32,6 km (CRI).
26 Aug, 10th stage: Sintra-Lisboa, 149,5 km.
Total: 1.605 km.
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