Portuguese time trial champion Rafael Reis confirmed his favoritism this Thursday to win the prologue of the 83rd Volta a Portugal, held in the Belém district of Lisbon. Repeating the feat of last year’s edition, with exactly the same route and mileage (5.4 km), the 30-year-old cyclist, a native of Setubal, flew through the coastal part of the city and considers himself the first yellow jersey. release of this year’s ‘grandíssima’.
Rafael Reis (Glassdrive-Q8-Anicolor) took 6 minutes 11 seconds to cover 5.4 km, one second more than in 2021. This was the fourth time Rafael Reis has won the prologue of the Volta races in Portugal – he had already achieved this in 2016. , 2018 and 2021 – and has every chance to keep the status of the leader until the arrival stage in Torre, in Serra da Estrela, on Sunday.
In second place was his Uruguayan teammate Mauricio Moreira, who spent another nine seconds, and in third was Britain’s Oliver Rees (Trinity Racing).
As for the contenders for the overall victory, Mauricio Moreira has already won several seconds against his main rivals, most notably his teammate António Carvalho, who led 22 seconds more than the winner, and two Efapel cyclists Thiago Antunes and Enrique Casimiro. who spent more than 12 and 13 seconds.
This Friday will see the first stage of the Volta a Portugal, and therefore the longest of the race. Cyclists will travel between the cities of Vila Franca de Xira and Elvas, 193.7 km long, and with great prospects to finish in the sprint.
Author: Luis Oliveira
Source: CM Jornal
