Happily for everyone, racers and staff, although the day was as hot as yesterday, a generally overcast sky and some wind helped cool down somewhat temperatures during the race.

 

The fastest racer today was Christophe De Clerck (BEL), with an average of 28,05 km/h, close to the stage record average of 28,9 km/h. Overall, almost 80% of racers had a 20 plus km/h average today: a stage made for runners and groups.

 

mong the top 20s the CPs registered few lone riders throughout the stage, on a day given to the push-and-pull typical of road races.  Vitor Gamito (POR) once again opted not to take a detached lead, but rather ride out the last section with Marco Macedo (POR), on a superb comeback from Marco to the front positions (he’s back to the overall top 10, in 10th place), the two being joined by Christophe De Clerq (BEL) who also had a particularly good day. Lower on the table, Malcom Bruton (NZL) had also another strong day, making him jump to 15th overall.

 

Who didn’t have such a good stage was Rui Anjos (POR), seen riding furiously at the last CP, together with Steven Williams, trying to make up for lost time, in pursuit of Kate Aardal (NOR). He was able to approach Kate and Henry Hayes (RSA), but ended the stage some 4 minutes behind Kate. The Norwegian athlete is now 10 minutes away from Rui overall. A somewhat short margin, that can still be discussed on the two remaining stages.

 

João Mesquita (POR) arrived at the finish line in 25th position bruised from a heads-over-bar fall, making him drop to 11th position overall.

 

7th STAGE TOP 10: 

 

1 - Vitor Gamito (POR) 

2 - Christophe De Clercq (BEL)

3 - Marco Macedo (POR)

4 - Henry Hayes (RSA) 

5 - Kate Aardal (NOR)

6 - Rui Anjos (POR) 

7 - Steven Williams (USA)

8 - Malcom Bruton (NZL)

9 - Gonçalo Correia (POR) 

10 - Francisco Carneiro (POR)

 

FINAL TOP 3 AFTER 7th STAGE: 

 

1 - Vitor Gamito (POR), 39:12:26 

2 - Rui Anjos (POR), 2:27:36 dif. 

3 - Kate Aardal (NOR), 2:38:11 dif.

 

DAY 8 – ALBERNOA TO MONCHIQUE

 

If athletes still had the strength to climb up to Fóia (902m / 2960ft), at the end of tomorrow’s stage, after 138km and 3108m total climb, they would not only be able to see the sea, but also, on a very, very clear day, even Morocco. Or so the story goes.

 

Algarve, the region we’re about to enter tomorrow, was the last major part of the present Portuguese territory to be claimed in 1249 by the Christians from the Muslims, that had ruled the region for more than five centuries, perhaps protected by the coastal mountain range that TransPortugal Garmin Race is about to climb on stage 8. Altought not very high, they are relatively dry, rather roughed and difficult mountains.

 

The heat, and probably again a strong open sun (predicted ultraviolet index is high, 8/red) will eventually increase the difficulty of the stage’s last section steep climbs. Moreover, at that section, athletes will have already more than 1000km / 620mi of race distance on their legs. It may be a tougher stage than some may predict.