This Friday, the cyclist from Tavira David Livramento was one of the men in the spotlight of the Banco BIC/Carmim team, as he took the day's flight together with several elements of the platoon, during the queen stage of the 75th Tour of Portugal Liberty Seguros.
Livramento was on the run for about 100 kilometers, a climb far from easy and quite selective.
The tirade joined Oliveira do Hospital to Alto da Torre, in Seia, after covering 166,3 kilometers filled with various climbs, and culminating in a special category mountain prize at the Tower.
Henrique Casimiro was the first Banco BIC/Carmim athlete to complete the journey, reaching 21st position, 8 minutes and 40 seconds behind the winner Gustavo Veloso (OFM/Quinta da Lixa). The new Yellow Jersey is now Rui Sousa (Efapel/Glassdrive).
The resistant Walter da Silva gave in on this hard journey, however, the sporting director of the Angolan athletes, Carlos César Araújo, defends the excellence of the results achieved by the cyclist and explains that “the objective was to do 50% of the race and Walter completed 80% , which already far exceeds our expectations, however, due to the greater degree of difficulty and competition in Portugal, the physical wear and tear became evident”.
However, Angola's national champion, Igor Silva, continues in the competition and has shown a high level of endurance.
Yellow Jersey is already Portuguese
At the 8th stage, completed at the highest point in mainland Portugal, Seia (Torre), the yellow jersey of the 75th Tour of Portugal Liberty Seguros changed owner and Rui Sousa (Efapel/Glassdrive) with second place in Serra da Estrela was replaced by the undisputed leader.
“I've been doing second time here at the Tower for three years. I tried to set the pace so I could sprint at the end, gave it all I had and managed to gain some time. It's a big dream to wear the yellow one… but it's even bigger to win the Tour”, he said, happy but expectant with the time trial of the next stage that doesn't favor him.
The climb was won by Gustavo Veloso (OFM/Quinta da Lixa) who was part of the group of favorites in the final kilometers of the climb. The Galician took off on his own to triumph when his goal was very close.
After celebrating the victory, Veloso confessed that “I didn't expect to win, but I knew that if I came in the front group I could try to win. For the last 400 meters I thought it was possible. I have some advantage for tomorrow, but you never know what might happen in the time trial”. After this result, Gustavo Veloso was just six seconds behind the leader, he is second and in third position is Hernâni Brôco (Efapel / Glassdrive) at 31 seconds.
With the queen stage that left Oliveira do Hospital and covered 166,3 km, of a constant up and down in Serra da Estrela, with three mountain prizes, the last one at the top of Torre Márcio Barbosa (LA Alumínios/Antarte) has already secured the title of “King of the Mountain” and the respective PODIUM Blue Jersey.
The classification by points is now commanded by Edgar Pinto (LA Alumínios/Antarte) who wears the BANCO BIC Red Jersey. The Youth Prize, White Jersey RTP, remains in the possession of Kazakh Vladislav Gorbunov (Astana).
The ups and downs of Serra da Estrela
Out of a group of 11 units that were isolated with 36 kilometers of proof, only Sérgio Sousa (Efapel/Glassdrive) and David Livramento (Banco BIC / CARMIM) were able to survive in the passage through Seia, before the final climb to the Tower.
In the platoon commanded by Efapel/Glassdrive, however, the movements began. With 25 kilometers to the finish, the yellow jersey at the start, Sergio Pardilla, (MTN / Qhubeka) put down any chance of maintaining the lead because he weakened on the climb and started to lose time.
After being annulled, the two most advanced men were in front of ten runners as the main favorites for the final victory of the Volta. Despite the attempts, it was only in the final meters that someone managed to gain an advantage. It was Gustavo Veloso followed by Rui Sousa.
The Galician with a stronger rhythm won the stage with one second ahead of Sousa, who reached the desired Liberty Seguros Yellow Jersey.
Daniel Silva (Rádio Popular/Onda) and Edgar Pinto (LA Alumínios / Antarte) finished six seconds after the winner.
9th Stage (CRI) - August 17, 2013
Sabugal - Guarda (35,3 km)
After so much effort and with the capacity for suffering taken to the limit, the survivors of the Volta face a 35,3 km time trial this Saturday. Nothing is decided!
On the penultimate day of competition, the first rider to hit the road is Filippo Baggio, the Italian from the Ceramica Flaminia/Fondriest team leaves at 14:19. Every minute each athlete will depart for the route between Sabugal and Guarda.
The last 10 runners leave with a difference of 2 minutes and the current Yellow Jersey Rui Sousa (Efapel/Glassdrive) will be the last on the starting ramp at 16:40.
The 35,3 km will help to find the winner of the 75th Tour of Portugal Liberty Seguros.
Comments