The first real challenge of the 86th Volta a Portugal is here. Riders are set for a grueling stage that promises to shake up the standings. It’s all about a double climb to the Sameiro Sanctuary in Braga. This climb will truly test everyone’s legs.
Rafael Reis, riding for Anicolor-Tien21, starts the day in the yellow jersey. He earned it with a strong win in the prologue. But today is a completely different story. The road stage is a beast compared to the short time trial.
A total of 111 cyclists will tackle 162.3 kilometers. The route starts in Viana do Castelo. It finishes at the Santuário do Sameiro, a tough category two mountain climb. Riders will actually go up this climb twice, which really adds to the difficulty. The official start horn blows at 1:15 PM.
Early on, riders will find a sprint point in Valença at kilometer 45.2. After that, a category three mountain point awaits at Extremo around the 80-kilometer mark. The day features two more sprint points: Ponte da Barca at kilometer 102.3 and Vila Verde at kilometer 123.6. Another category three climb, Portela do Vade, sits at kilometer 113.1. These points offer chances for different types of riders to shine.
However, the real action will unfold on the final circuit. This loop includes a brutal double ascent of Sameiro. It also features a speedy descent from the Falperra ramp. This part of the race is where the general classification contenders will separate themselves. They will cross the finish line for the first time at kilometer 143.7.
Then, they have to do it all again. The final climb is a grueling 6.6 kilometers to the highest point in Braga. The first rider is expected to reach the Sameiro Sanctuary around 5:38 PM. It’s going to be a nail-biter.
Rafael Reis holds a slim three-second lead right now. It is highly likely he will lose the yellow jersey today. The steep climbs are not his strong suit compared to the flat prologue. His closest rival is fellow countryman Iúri Leitão from Caja Rural. Leitão is an Olympic champion in the madison, showing his incredible leg power.
The Belgian rider Jens Verbrugghe of Israel Premier Tech Academy sits in third. The defending champion, Artem Nych from Anicolor-Tien21, is currently fifth. He trails by seven seconds. Everyone will be watching to see who handles the Sameiro best.