One could call the 9th stage of TransPortugal Garmin Race 2012 a classical final stage, with the original top 10 finishers included and very few changes in the general classification.

 

It was also a kind of a flash stage, athletes progressing very fast from control point to control point (CP), on a relatively short distance stage (99km), perhaps not allowing for as many changes as in other stages.

 

Marco Macedo (POR) was today’s fastest rider (25,89 km/h), not far from the stage best ever average of 26,4 km/h.

 

Kate Aardal (NOR) won her first stage at TransPortugal Garmin Race 2012, and brought the overall difference towards Rui Anjos (POR) from almost 12 to just under 4. She had her day under the sun, literally, and led the stage alone in the front from km 30. Both Kate and Rui kept their previous 3rd and 2nd overall positions.

 

Marco Macedo (POR), also detached from all companions early on the stage, and again had a great day. Engaged in a pursuit for Kate and also Henry Hayes (RSA), and concerned in regaining as much time as posible, he finished in 2nd place at the finish line, just less that 4 minutes behind Kate and only 8 seconds in front of Henry. He was able to regain today another position overall, attaining a final bitter-sweet 8th overall, on a rather unlucky race for this superior athlete.

 

Henry Hayes (RSA) still rode the first section of the stage together with Raffaele Verzella (ITA), but then the Italian was overwhelmed by the climbs that followed CP 1, while Henry locked himself into 3rd position to the end of the stage, only pressured by Marco.

 

Paul-Hervé Theunissen (BEL) was today’s revelation, also benefiting from the slower pace chosen by some usual top 10ers. Paul held in 2nd right until the last CP, then finishing 6th of the stage: his best stage position on the entire race.

 

Vitor Gamito (POR), with his well secure grip on 1st position overall, took it “slow” today, as did many other top 10ers, like Christophe De Clerck (BEL). Vitor finished in 5th and rode close to Rui Anjos (POR), that finished 4th, for the most part of the stage. Then were also joined by Daniel Hoedmaekers (NED), Vitor could be seen riding visibly happy into the cool clean wind that blew onshore at Carrapteira.

 

That was where TransPortugal Garmin Race 2012 finally met the sea.

 

9th STAGE TOP 10: 

 

1 - Kate Aardal (NOR)

2 - Marco Macedo (POR)

3 - Henry Hayes (RSA)

4 - Rui Anjos (POR)

5 - Vitor Gamito (POR)

6 - Paul-Hervé Theunissen (BEL)

7 - Daniel Hoedemaekers (NED)

8 - Christophe De Clercq (BEL)

9 - Gonçalo Correia (POR)

10 - José Pereira (POR)

 

THE RACE

 

This year’s race was perhaps a very stable one in terms of overall positions, marked by the resilient regularity of not only the top 10ers but of many other racers as well.

 

The race final top 10 is pretty much the same as it was after stage 4, at Monfortinho, with 5 stages still to go.

 

Since then, only two changes occurred.

 

Marco Macedo (POR) was able to re-enter the first 10, after reaching his low, at 13th place, after receiving a penalty and then suffering a bad fall. The other move is João Mesquita (POR), pushed to a final 11th place, changing places with José Pereira, 10th overall, after suffering a fall at stage 7.

 

It was at stage 4 that Kate Aardal (NOR) lost her 2nd place overall, after suffering 3 punctures, lost time that she would never recover, specially as the race moved into the hot south and Kate lost her edge to the heat.

 

The second half of the overall top 10 was dominated throughout the entire race by the never failing Portuguese group, headed by Gonçalo Correia (POR) and including Nuno Campos (POR), Francisco Carneiro (POR), the aforementioned José Pereira (POR) and João Mesquita (POR), and also Rodrigo Cunha (POR).

 

On the other hand, there were athletes, like Janine King (RSA), 12th overall, Stuart Rawlinson (RSA), 13th, and also Liselore Vollmer (NED) 17th, that saw a steady progression up the table throughout the race, especially after the more mountainous stages at the beginning.

 

And these are just a few examples of the countless sport stories that could be told about the 10th TransPortugal Garmin Race. Also stories of hardship and the friendship necessary to overcome it.

The countdown for TransPortugal Garmin Race 2013 has begun!

 

FINAL TOP 10 TRANSPORTUGAL GARMIN RACE 2012

 

1 - Vitor Gamito (POR), 48:49:29

2 - Rui Anjos (POR), 2:59:55 dif.

3 - Kate Aardal (NOR), 3:03:44 dif.

4 - Henry Hayes (RSA), 3:15:05 dif.

5 - Christophe De Clercq (BEL), 3:53:00 dif.

6 - Gonçalo Correia (POR), 6:01:54 dif.

7 - Nuno Campos (POR), 6:22:24 dif.

8 - Marco Macedo (POR), 6:33:27 dif.

9 - Francisco Carneiro (POR), 6:50:40 dif.

10 - José Pereira (POR), 7:11:23 dif.