A mountain route for the Portuguese NC. Prio Porto the dominant team here. In teams of 3-5 riders they have Machado, Reis, Vinhas and Baltazar as leaders.
First the obvious favourite with decent support by Rui Costa, Oliveira and Silva.
Vitor Rodrigues another good shot for the win but without support.
The 2nd Portuguese team Karcher with 2 teams. A 7 rider team around Cabreira and 3 riders around D.Silva. Though they possibly lack the top climber.
7 breakaway riders and while Karcher sends a rider of each team, Prio only has one of their weaker riders in there. Actually of their weakest squad around Baltazar and Avelino.
Mainly the Costa brothers work behind not allowing too big of a gap. One is riding for Machado, the other for Reis. So a nice communication there.
Karcher looking good as the break is down to 3. Sousa and Livramento both in there though. The 3rd rider is Movistar`s Paulinho.
The only other stronger climber of the former 7 Goncalves tries to join and actually will do so a bit later.
Prio is keeping the gap at about 2-3min. But then something weird as we see B.Silva in the attack. He is one of Machado`s helper but also a 76 climber.
Only a bit later also Oliveira 74 is attacking. Just like Silva a Machado support rider. And to make it more weird Rui Costa as 3rd team mate is still working at the front a bit. Is the confidence in Machado really that small after a mediocre season?
20km to go and the start of the 2nd climb 1'40 only for the leading four. Meanwhile Silva and Oliveira caught again.
Goncalves again the first rider to struggle almost on top of the middle climb. The peloton of 14 riders is 1'24 behind.
On the descent Movistar`s Paulinho tries to get rid of the Karcher duo. That said while the two Karcher riders are riding for different teams, they are actually in the same team as Paulinho as he is just loaned out to PT.
And also in the peloton Silva gives it another try. But in the end it just disturbs the pace making a lot and the gap is up to 2min again.
4km and 2min to the peloton. All solo in front now. So it`s looking good for Movistar/Karcher, while Prio needs to do something quickly.
An attack with 3,6km to go. They have a 1km gap to close. Machado and Rodrigues on the move. If somebody is able to make it, then those two though.
Sousa and Livramento won`t make it back to Paulinho as the gap is at almsot 1min now. And from behind the duo is closing fast to them.
1,5km and Rodrigues now struggles to keep contact with Machado. And only seconds ahead the two Karcher riders, while Paulinho just goes around the corner.
Flamme Rouge and Paulinho still has a gap but Machado now in 2nd position already!
400m and he gives it all. This will be close but Paulinho almost made it.
And he starts celebrating only 100m later. If this isn`t too early with Machado being fast behind.
But the rider know best. A surprise win for Paulinho. Congrats Movistar/Karcher for the NC. Machado was close to a favourite win but went too early and lacked good support by his team mates.
Rodrigues sprints for 3rd just ahead of Livramento.
J.Goncalves (UBS) and N.Oliveira (Prio) are equal time trialists and should go for the win. Outside chances for Rui Costa or D. Goncalves or even Machado. All from Prio. So after losing the RR they surely hope to get the ITT NC.
Rui Costa beats Machado and Sousa by 8s early on.
Reis on a good day it seems just 2s off. Can he keep this until the end?
Both though won`t have a chance as D. Goncalves is 20s faster already taking the lead.
But quickly being gapped again. Their team mate Oliveira seems to have a great day as he is 39s faster!
And this brings reigning champion J.Goncalves into problems. The UBS rider is 42s down after 10km! Even 3s behind D.Goncalves.
So Prio is looking good for the ITT jersey.
Oliveira also takes the 2nd split. 1'12 ahead of his teammate D.Goncalves.
J.Goncalves with an awful +1'24 at half time.
Oliveira comes to the finish. Behind him he passed D. Goncaves even, who looks 2nd in the end.
J.Goncalves with a day to forget. Only 3rd and 2'39 behind. This is probably his worst TT ever.
Pedro Miguel Paulinho
