The heat was on again today, as the riders rolled through endless hills and mountains, densely covered by eucalyptus. Probably too densely covered, by this exotic species. Temperatures rose way above 30ºC (86ºF), reaching 35º (95ºF) in some of the windless valleys.

 

Getting to Monchique is a kind of a defining moment for TransPortugal Garmin Race. From the balconies of the hotel, we could finally see the sea, no more land, not one single hill or crest in the horizon. As long as mountain bikes can’t ride on water, this means the end.

 

The fastest racer today was Vitor Gamito (POR), equaling the stage’s average record of 23,8 km/h, although 2 minutes short from the fastest time of 5h48. The Gamito Locomotive again took an overwhelming isolated lead, arriving almost 40 minutes before 2nd place. It would seem that neither the solitude nor the heat are exceptional factors for an athlete accustomed to extreme conditions experienced on Summer-held road races.

 

On the other hand, for Kate Aardal (NOR) heat is not assumedly her turf and she lost the stage to Rui Anjos (POR), probably also missing today the stride of Henry Hayes (RSA) along side her, making her ride alone the entire stage. Rui also rode alone through the climbing section of the stage.

 

Constant Henry was finally not so constant today, as he reached control point (CP) 1, together with Raffaele Verzella (ITA), coming from the wrong direction due to a navigation error. They had to roll back and ride the correct path back to the CP, making them loose some 15 min in the process.

 

Henry finished the stage 13 minutes behind Christophe De Clercq (BEL), who did not waste the opportunity and rode relentlessly through the uphill section of the stage together with Marco Macedo (POR). He is now 16 minutes behind Henry, while Marco stepped up to 9th overall.

 

The Portuguese Train again stormed through the country and its sleepy villages, to the delight of the locals we must say, draining the water out of the public toilets along the path, as was the case today at old Santa Clara. The local grocery, first alarmed by the sweaty and red faced people racing in, quickly reacted by stock piling its counter with fresh water bottles.

 

Gonçalo Correia (POR) detached himself early on and raced alone very hard to the end, finishing in 7th. Nuno Campos (POR) and José Pereira (POR), riding together, followed 12 minutes later.

 

8th STAGE TOP 10: 

 

1 - Vitor Gamito (POR) 

2 - Marco Macedo (POR)

3 - Christophe De Clercq (BEL)

4 - Rui Anjos (POR) 

5 - Kate Aardal (NOR)

6 - Henry Hayes (RSA)

7 - Gonçalo Correia (POR)

8 - José Pereira (POR)

9 - Nuno Campos (POR)

10 - Rodrigo Cunga (POR)

 

FINAL TOP 3 AFTER 8th STAGE:

 

1 - Vitor Gamito (POR), 44:55:24 

2 - Rui Anjos (POR), 3:00:09 dif. 

3 - Kate Aardal (NOR), 3:11:50 dif.

 

DAY 9 – MONCHIQUE TO SAGRES

 

Tomorrow is TransPortugal Garmin Race last stage. Not so much because we want it to be, but because it has nowhere else to go: the race will reach the southernmost point of the country.

 

Contrary to last year’s overall times at stage 8, distances between the top 5 this year, with the obvious exception of Vitor Gamito (POR,) are not totally comfortable for any one racer, being the thinnest the one between Henry Hayes (RSA), in 4th, and Kate Aardal (NOR), in 3th. Will Henry try to make it to the golden top 3 overall? Both racers were in the race last year.  Kate finished in 4th and Henry in 8th.

 

The stage is the shortest of TransPortugal Garmin race (99 km with 2058m total climbs).

 

It has some pretty fast sections, either rolling or with long downhills. Nevertheless, the second half of the stage features a succession of steep uphills, although not long any of them, as the route aligns definitely with the sea and has to cross its many beach enclaves.