Argentine cyclist Tomas Contte today secured the second triumph for Aviludo-Louletano-Loulé Concelho in the 85th edition of the Tour of Portugal by bicycle, by winning the 8th and third-to-last stage in Fafe.
After the victory of his compatriot Nicolás Tivani in the 2nd stage, in Lisbon, Contte was the strongest in the “sprint” discussion at the end of the race that linked Viana do Castelo to Fafe, a distance of 182,4 kilometers.
«It was a difficult stage, with the whole day on the run, in which there were many of us. I managed to overcome the mountain, my biggest difficulty, and offer this victory to the team, which deserved it. I want to dedicate the victory to my team, who believed in me all year. It was a difficult year, because I had to recover from a knee injury at the beginning of the season", said the Argentine, speaking to RTP.
The sporting director of the Loulé team, Américo Silva, stressed that the team already deserved its second victory in the Tour of Portugal.
“We already deserved this victory, not just Tomas, for the work he has done, but the whole team. It is a fair victory for all the work we have been doing in the Tour. Leaving here with just one victory was very little”, commented to RTP the manager of Louletano, who continues to have Nicolás Tivani as the leader of the points classification (orange jersey).
Very early in the rally, after leaving Viana do Castelo, almost 30 elements – including Francisco Campos, from AP Hotels & Resorts-Tavira-SC Farense, and the Argentine from the Loulé team – launched an escape.
Without the presence of candidates for the individual general and with a distance gained very quickly, the difference reached 12 minutes and stabilized, with the peloton relaxed and allowing the escape to take place, with Tomas Contte showing his quality in the decisive “ sprint”.
The peloton arrived more than 10 minutes later, but Afonso Eulálio (ABTF Betão-Feirense) kept the yellow jersey. Delio Fernández (AP Hotels & Resorts-Tavira-SC Farense) continues in 7th place and Jesús del Pino (Louletano) occupies 10th position.
Comments