The “weather factor” was upon TransPortugal Garmin Race 2012 again, adding hardship to an already tough mountain stage, where the long uphills and downhills had to be fought amidst wet terrain, blinding fog, strong wind, rain and cold, for the greater part of the route.

 

Relatively modest in size and height, but not in beauty, The Estrela Mountain Range, or Serra da Estrela, lived up to its reputation. Just as any mountain, it can be as kind and warm, as uninviting.

 

Anyway, as far as the weather goes, it wouldn’t surprise us that from here to Sagres things changed completely, and that the race sometimes progressed under a blazing May sun with high temperatures. That’s the way the weather works in Portugal, despite its size. And that’s just how we like TransPortugal Garmin race to be!

 

The number of racers that didn’t finish the stage rose significantly, with around 10 racers out by the third control point (CP). And the fault was not all exhaustion or delay. Daniel Hoedemaekers (NED) suffered a nasty fall due to stuck chain, still close to the first CP and cursing his bad luck lost his top 10 position. He counts on joining the race tomorrow, anyway. Mireille Montminy (CAN) also feels she can rejoin the competition tomorrow, after not being present on today’s stage.

 

All this also meant an extra effort for our mobile safety teams, like António Fael, who today drove more than 300km back and forth, so that no one was left abandoned.

 

Racers started leaving early today, from 07h57 to 09h00. It was already clear from the view we got from the hotel that the “Serra” was not in a good mood today.

 

After crossing the Mondego river, coming from a 500m (1640 ft) plunge that passed through the Tentinolho Roman cobble stone track, the first CP (20km into the race) came with no surprises, with Kate Aardal (NOR) in first, followed by Robin Willard (CAN) and David Rawlinson (RSA).

 

This CP was already inside the first super uphill of the day, some 10km of strong climb, that were followed by several other climbs until TransPortugal Garmin Race highest point of about 1600m (5250 ft) at Santinha. To get there, racers would pedal through very remote parts of Serra de Estrela, with bad weather on top of them.

 

On the other side of this roller-coaster, there came very different faces from the ones we saw at the first CP. Very few smiles and waves or any such pleasantries. The race was full on and the effort was very evident.

 

At the second CP (km 45), as usual, Kate was in the lead, followed by Vitor Gamito (POR) 8 min away, Henry Hayes (RSA) and a particularly strong today Raffaele Verzella (ITA). The three musketeers, Marco Macedo (POR), Rui Anjos (POR) and Kaj Slenter (NED) were once more on their trail.

 

Not much after, we could see (or rather guess through the fog) the Gamito Locomotive already just a few seconds behind Kate. He would go on to accumulate 30 min advantage at the end of the stage, with an impressive performance.

 

At the third CP, Henry was losing time for the three runners behind him, who would eventually pass him, but a sore knee prevented Kaj from holding his position in front of Constant Henry, and he finished 6th.

 

Racers were by then going very much uphill again, along the stunning Zêzere valley. A valley carved by glaciers thousands of years ago and that today was pouring water out from under every rock.

 

Vitor passed the last CP (20km to go) in 1st position at 14h02m14s followed by Kate at 14h28m49s, today holding a comfortable distance from Marco, in 3rdat 14h42m37s, and Rui, in 4th, although that distance would shorten significantly as the finish line approached.

 

With Raffaele losing some positions at the last sections, and with Daniel Hoedemaekers (NED) out of the stage, the stage’s final top 10 was completed with the so far very regular athletes Christophe De Clercq (BEL), Gonçalo Correia (POR), Francisco Carneiro (POR) and Nuno Campos (POR). Not to mention other top 20 athletes who are keeping their pace relentlessly.

 

THE 3RD STAGE FINAL TOP 10:

 

- 1st Vitor Gamito (POR)

- 2nd Kate Aardal (NOR)

- 3rd Marco Macedo (POR)

- 4th Rui Anjos (POR)

- 5th Henry Hayes (RSA

- 6th Kaj Slenter (NED)

- 7th Christophe De Clercq (BEL)

- 8th Gonçalo Correia (POR)

- 9th Francisco Carneiro (POR)

- 10th Nuno Campos (POR)

 

FINAL TOP 3 RESULTS AFTER 3RD STAGE:

 

- 1st Vitor Gamito (POR), 16:53:36

- 2nd Kate Aardal (NOR), 18:10:05

- 3rd Marco Macedo (POR), 18:22:28

 

DAY 4 – UNHAIS DA SERRA TO MONFORTINHO

 

Tomorrow’s stage will start taking TransPortugal Garmin Race out of the mountainous north and into the relatively flat south. Slowly, and maybe not so in strict geographical terms, but we’re sure that racers will notice a significant difference in their surroundings, more so when we’re nearing Monfortinho. There’s a probability that the weather changes accordingly, especially towards the end of the day.

 

Dubbed as an “easier” stage, whatever that means in TransPortugal Garmin Race slang, it surely doesn’t pose the challenges of the previous stages.

 

The preserved historical village of Monsanto will feature a technical steep climb through yet another cobble stone track, and the corresponding downhill on the other side. Be careful going down!A certainly different stage from the ones held until now, let's see how the results' table react to that.

 

Stay tuned, and see you all tomorrow for the 4th stage of the TransPortugal Garmin Race 2012.