Algarve cyclist Raquel Dias, from Tavira/Extremosul/SCFarense, was today the best runner in the National Team in the women's junior long-distance race at the European Championship, coming 34th at the end of the 72,9 kilometres, between Zolder and Hasselt, Belgium.
According to the Portuguese Cycling Federation, the runners found a completely flat route, with the connecting section between Zolder and Hasselt being complemented with three laps of the urban circuit within this city.
The peloton was always compact, with several falls splitting the group and making the selection of values.
The pace varied, with periods of great acceleration, which stretched the peloton, and others of greater calm, in which the group occupied the entire width of the road.
«This stop-start, always at a high level of difficulty, did not suit Daniela Simão well, who would give up as she never found the right rhythm. Raquel Dias and Maria Constança Marques resisted in the peloton. A collective fall at the start of the last lap found the two Portuguese riders further back, forcing them to make an extra effort to rejoin the group, after having been “cut off”», said the Federation in a note.
At the front, the Dutch Puck Langenbarg triumphed, ahead of the German Messane Bräutigam and the Czech Stepanka Dubcová, who accompanied her on the podium.
Raquel Dias, who was at the back of the group, had to avoid the fall to cross the finish line, doing so in 34th place, 28 seconds behind the winner. Maria Constança Marques was 57th, 1m32s behind.
Today, starting at 11:30 am, the elite men's long-distance race will be held, in which Portugal will have a last-minute absence. According to the Federation, Iúri Leitão was unwell during the night, with symptoms of a viral infection, and will not be competing.
The national representation is in charge of the twins Ivo and Rui Oliveira.
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