Luis López secured the yellow jersey of the Volta ao Concelho de Loulé yesterday, after a double journey on the road and against the clock, and will have to defend it this Saturday, in the last stage of the race, which includes a “climb” to Barranco do Velho.
Yesterday, the double journey was marked by turnarounds in the standings.
In the morning, Manuel Marques (ABTF Betão/Bairrada) won the second stage of the race and took command of the general.
However, in the afternoon's collective time trial, it was the Spaniards from Valverde Team/Ricardo Fuentes who dominated, which allowed Luis López to move to the top of the standings.
«As expected, the team time trial caused very significant differences, despite having only 10,9 kilometres. The strongest team was the Valverde Team/Ricardo Fuentes, who closed the collective exercise in 14m11s», according to the Portuguese Cycling Federation.
ABTF Betão/Bairrada, «trying to defend the yellow jersey of Manuel Marques, was the team that came closest to the Spaniards, having, however, been 23 seconds slower».
Third place in the third stage went to Landeiro/KTM/Matias & Araújo/Frulact, 39 seconds behind the winners.
«Before the afternoon stage, the runners had completed, this morning, 82 kilometers with departure and arrival in the center of Loulé. Manuel Marques attacked from afar and reached the end with a 15-second advantage over the first chasing group, of 12 elements», adds the federation.
After counting the two stages on Friday, the Valverde Team/Ricardo Fuentes occupy the first four places in the individual classification, through Luis López, Diego Aparicio, Álvaro García and Antonio Arias. Manuel Marques dropped to fifth place, 15 seconds behind the yellow jersey.
Valverde Team/Ricardo Fuentes owns all individual and collective classifications. Antonio Arias is first in the points classification, Luis Lajarín leads in the mountain and youth.
The Volta ao Concelho de Loulé ends this Saturday, with what is considered the queen stage. There are 109 kilometres, departing and arriving in Loulé. Two crossings in Barranco do Velho, another two in Freixo Seco and the Tôr ramp, 10,6 kilometers from the finish line, promise to make significant differences. Departure will be at 11:40 am and arrival is scheduled for 14:30 pm.
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