Garmin Trans Portugal
Pinto Pushes for the Lead
Agnelo Quelhas / 04.05.2010
And the routines don’t end here. After each stage they take even longer, although less rushed, since there is no departure time pressing on you. Upon arrival, all athletes have to deliver their GPS and tracker (those carrying them). Then there’s the picnic table that replenishes the body, the washing and preparation of the bike for the next day, followed by a well-deserved bath, massage and finally dinner and the next days briefing. In between there is the storage of all gear, clothes and shoe washing, etc.
If yesterday belonged to Milan Spolc of the Czech Republic, today the stage belonged to Luís Leão Pinto, right after passing Spolc near the village of Almeida. By Guarda, the finish city, the time difference between the two was over 15 minutes, and this guaranteed Leão Pinto the yellow jersey for tomorrow.
The stage began with the departure from Freixo and the descent to the Mosteiro stream, taking the Alpajares causeway. This very technical descent was full of weeds, making it very hard to see the stone steps properly. As expected many of the athletes did not take risks on the way down, making this section with the utmost care. Still there were some unserious falls. The American Jason Luque was one of the unlucky ones, and fell in the final section of the causeway just before the bridge crossing. He luckily managed to cushion the 2 meter fall with some plants right on the edge, escaping what could have been a nasty fall with only some scratches.
At this stage Milan Spolc had already lost 5 minutes to the Portuguese Leão Pinto (who started later due to his handicap) and lost another 10 minutes in the climb to Castelo Rodrigo, after Barca D'Alva. By Almeida Luís Leão Pinto was already very near Spolc, overtaking the yellow jersey on the climb after the river Coa. And he kept gaining time until the finish line in Guarda, crossing it 15m:17s before Spolc.
Like yesterday, the third and fourth places went to Tiago Silva and Marco Almeida. The 5th was Greg Anderson, who rode an excellent stage.
Tomorrow will probably be the hardest day of this years’ Transportugal. After two tough stages in the north, the route follows on to the high trails of Serra da Estrela. The exit from Guarda is made through Videmonte, at 1000 meters in altitude, but right before this the riders must go down to the Mondego valley. The following 30km of hard climb pass Videmonte, Barranco do Mouro, Campo da Bola and Portela de Folgosinho, before coming to the highest point at Santinha, towering at 1600m, by kilometre 48.
The trail continues with the descent to S. Gabriel, through Penhas Douradas, comes again to another big ascent and finishes going downhill to the Serra da Estrela Hotel. It will be a long day, with 96km and 3635m of climb. Those who finish this toughest of stages will probably be able to tackle any of those which follow.
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