Daniel Mestre from Alentejo (W52-FC Porto) won today the third stage of the 81st Tour of Portugal Santander, a long journey of 194,1 kilometers, between Santarém and Castelo Branco.
W52-FC Porto put the whole team at the front of the pack in the last two kilometers, guiding Daniel Mestre to victory at the end of 5h11m37s of the race.
Cément Russo (Team Arkéa-Samsic) was second and August Jensen (Israel Cycling Academy) closed the podium of a journey that left Gustavo César Veloso (W52-FC Porto) at the top of the overall standings, with an even greater advantage over his rivals, as there were “cuts” of time, as would be expected, in an arrival as complicated and technical as the one in Castelo Branco.
Vicente de Mateos (Aviludo-Louletano) will be the best “Algarvian” finishing the run in 10th place, 2 seconds behind the winner and 1 behind the yellow jersey.
The long distance, the easy route, the heat and the proximity to the Estrela mountain stage made it possible, according to the Portuguese Cycling Federation, to foresee «a journey in which teams with aspirations for the yellow jersey would take advantage of it to save energy. There was, however, a doubt: would the sprinter formations strive to provide a platoon or compact arrival or would they allow an escape to avenge?».
The answer began to be given right at the beginning: Jayde Julius (Protouch) and Guillaume Almeida (BAI Sicasal Petro de Luanda) joined at the head of the race.
The duo's lead approached 12 minutes, but two runners were “short-handed to carry the trail to the finish line. This became even clearer when Caja Rural-Seguros RGA and Amore & Vita-Prodir took over the platoon's destinies and quickly reduced the difference to manageable values», says the FPC.
The South African was the most persistent, but ended up absorbed seven kilometers from the goal. In addition to the escape, the fight for the mountain jersey also animated the tirade. Basque Peio Goikoetxea (Equipo Euskadi) had retained the status of best climber.
Another reason for agitation happened before the stage. The college of stewards considered that Joni Brandão (Efapel) benefited from irregular support by the support car, in yesterday's stage, and applied a penalty of 10 seconds.
Gustavo César Veloso remains at the top of the overall standings with 3 seconds ahead of Mikel Aristi (Euskadi Basque Country-Murias) and 8 over Daniel Mestre (W52-FC Porto), who succeed him in the table.
W52-FC Porto also owns the green jersey, through Daniel Mestre, and commands teams. Urko Berrade (Euskadi Basque Country-Murias) is the best youngster.
The fourth stage of the Volta a Portugal is one of the most anticipated of the 81st edition of the race. The caravan will depart from Pampilhosa da Serra at 13:15 pm and, after covering 145 kilometers, the strongest in the peloton should reach the top of Torre, in Serra da Estrela, at around 17:20 pm.
After three years of absence, the highest point in mainland Portugal will once again receive a stage final. The ascent to the goal will be made by the slope considered the hardest. There will be 19,7 kilometers of climbing, with an average slope of 6,6 percent, from Covilhã. «It will be the proof of the truth to understand who are the real candidates to wear yellow, in a week, in Porto», considers the Portuguese Cycling Federation.
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