Portuguese cyclist Daniel Silva won today the inaugural stage of the Volta ao Alentejo, reaching the top of Marvão alone, and became the first yellow jersey of the 31st edition.
The Rádio Popular-Onda corridor covered the 167 kilometers between Castelo de Vide and Marvão, returning to “Alentejana” after seven years of absence, in 04:18.16 hours, crossing the finish line in isolation.
Silva started the five-kilometer climb to Marvão accompanied by Sérgio Sousa (Efapel/Glassdrive), Alejandro Marque (OFM/Quinta da Lixa) and David Livramento (Carmim/Tavira), but in the final meters, everything changed.
The fourth place finisher in the 2012 Volta a Portugal attacked, overcame the strong wind and kept a comfortable distance from the competition to win the race.
“I ended up losing a lot in these last meters and now we have little advantage to be able to take the yellow one to the end”, he lamented.
The Czech Karel Hnik (Etixx) was second at the end of the race, which coincided with a second category mountain count, losing two seconds to the Trofa runner, with Eduard Prades (OFM-Quinta da Lixa) being third, at three seconds from the first.
On Thursday, the caravan will depart from Sousel for a course of 172,1 kilometers, punctuated by flying goals in Vila Viçosa, Redondo and Reguengos de Monsaraz and by a third category mountain count in Monsaraz, which will finish in Portel.
Comments