The last of the Western Europe nationals to be raced is on the Iberian peninsula and it is time for the Portuguese to crown their RR champion.
There is a slight cloud over Portuguese cycling as some of their best cyclists are missing here looking for a new team following the demise of Sport Lisboa a Benfica. We have also seen heavy backers of Portuguese racing Energie Diesal and Lipton Iced Tea suffer disappointing seasons in the Protour. Still at least those two teams are carrying on in some capacity and they are here in this race with Energie Diesal’s Bruno Pires offering solid claims for the win. Sergio Paulinho (Bbox), Mestre (B and O) ad Cabreira (Vesuvio) are good value challengers. Also watch out for the Bimbo Nutella team with riders like Sabido and Rodrigues.
Early on we got some attacking riding in the 22 man race, with four riders testing the peletons will.
Fernades (Pearl Adidas), Rodriguez Silva (Energie Diesal), Oliveria (Bimbo Nutella) and Avelino (Lipton Iced Tea) formed this.
However unlike many other nationals, one team are determined to make this a true run race as Energie Diesal (despite having a man in the breakaway) chase this down and catch it within a lap or so.
Bimbo Nutella seem determined to test the Energie Diesal resolves and with 93km to go Vitor Rodrigues goes on the move marked by B and O’s Mestre.
This is more dangerous but Energie Diesal push hard to pull it back, you can tell though this was a big strain as they pulled the peleton apart briefly. Nethertheless Bimbo Nutella still had a card to play as Hugo Sabido now went on a solo move.
This time Energie Diesal let the gap grow.
And it grows.
And grows.
With 40km to go the gap is 7.30 and it doesn’t really change in the next 20km. Reacting far too late three riders launch a desperate move from the peleton.
But Paulinho, Pires and Mestre have got no chance of catching the Bimbo Nutella rider who takes a well thought out team win for Bimbo Nutella.
The Portuguese, better known for their climbing, usually aim for adequate with their TTing. None of the Benfica boys are here and so it is left to moderate stage racer Sergio Paulinho to pick up the favourites tab. It is hard to see anyone challenging him really, Bimbo Nutella have a great man against the clock in Dan Craven. Unfortunately he is Namibian so it is left to Vitor Rodrigues and youngster Oliveira to bring up their challenge.
So Rodridgues wins the battle of the Bimbo’s but there is really no competition with Paulinho who probably could have ridden this one with one leg and still won.
Paulinho 18.51 46.25 1.05.22
The Bbox man produced a pretty brutal display here winning by over a minute. The only other name worth mentioning is probably Ricardo Mestre (B and O).
