---

Close Racing on an ‘Easier’ Stage

Agnelo Quelhas / 05.05.2011

Today’s stage linked Monfortinho to Castelo de Vide in the Alentejo countryside, covering 144km with 2618m of vertical climbs. Although quite long this stage is one of the easiest of this year's TransPortugal Garmin, as the first 100km were mostly flat. Only at the end did things get harder.

Spring is now upon us and today was another great day to ride a bike, although there were some hotter moments in the afternoon. The arrival village, Castelo de Vide, is a frequent tourist attraction and it really deserves the attention it gets. The stage ended right up on the castle, after a steep climb on a stone cobbled road - something the racers are getting used to - be they medieval or roman.

The race started at Monfortinho and by 9:00am the entire group was on the track. Near km 30 the Spanish rider Harkaitz Zubillaga had his moment of bad luck, with a crash that put him out of the stage. Until km 100 the course was mainly flat, “Portuguese flat�, and the athletes at the front rode together. At km 60 there was a group of 15 to 20 racers pedalling through the Ponsul river valley dirt roads.

At km 93 Kate Aardal was leading, followed by 2 racers 5 minutes behind her, Henry Hayes and Artur Rijk. In pursuit of them, another 5 minutes behind was a big group, with all the top racers from the past stages, with Craig Stappler, Gijs Dohmen, Joep Dohmen, Marco Almeida, Sloan Anderson, Ignacio Romero and Sérgio Marques.

At km 101 the athletes passed from the Beira Interior region to the Alentejo region. After crossing the Tejo river they saw the natural monument of Portas de Ródão, the narrowest pass of the Tejo river in Portugal, a stunning view from the bridge that leaves no one indifferent.

By km 125 the two brothers from the Netherlands Gijs and Joep were in the lead. One minute away was Marco Almeida, Sérgio Marques and Ignacio Romero. And two minutes behind them Kate and Henry Hays. This was halfway on the longest climb of the day that finishes in Castelo de Vide.

At km 128 things were heating up as the racers got near the finish. Gijs was in the lead one minute in front of Sérgio and Ignacio. 2 minutes behind came Marco and right behind him separated by 1 min were Kate and Henry. Joep Dohmen had another bad luck episode when he broke the saddle of his bike and lost the lead which he was in with his brother.

See All Stories On This Race