Bruno Lima wins first stage and also takes overall leader’s yellow jersey in 2011 Volta ao Alentejo
Onda team’s Bruno Lima showed his tremendous performance and took the first stage and overall classifcation of 2011 Volta ao Alentejo on Thursday, June 9.
The race started in Mora and ended in Campo Maior. The Portugal rider, Lima, took a total of 3 hours, 48 minutes and 36 seconds to cover a distance of 169.9 kilometres.
His country-mate, Bruno Sancho of the LA/Antarte team, was the runner-up with the same timing of Lima. Jon Aberasturi of the Orbea team finished third, while Filipe Cardoso of Barbot/Efapel was in the fourth spot.
Vitor Lopes of Cartaxo/Capital do Vinho/CC J. M. Nicolau tried his best to catch the 99 riders, but he failed and took 100th spot with a difference of 22 seconds.
Three-man breakaway was formed early in the race, which included Cesar Fonte of Barbot/Efapel, Daan Olivier of Rabobank Continental and Andoni Blazquez of Orbea.
The two riders, Daan Olivier and Andoni Blazquez were caught by the peloton after few kilometres. Cesar Fonte maintained his pace in the race and won the first King of Mountain (KOM) of the day with three points.
In the final circuit, three cyclists were able to take a lead over the peloton, including, Bruno Lima, Bruno Sancho and Jon Aberasturi. All of them were working together, but Jon was failed to maintain his pace and with the help of his team, Lima crossed
the finish-line ahead of other riders.
Bruno Lima also took the lead in overall classification with a timing of 3 hours, 48 minutes and 26 seconds. Sancho was the runner-up with 2 seconds behind Lima, while Samuel Caldeira finished third with a difference of 4 seconds.
Jon Aberasturi was in the fourth spot with 6 seconds and Leonel Coutinho of Vitória/ASC/RTL grabbed fifth place with 7 seconds adrift.
The next stage will start in Vila Viçosa and end in Mértola. All the riders will cover the distance of 176.6 kilometres.
Points Classification
1. Bruno Lima (Por) ONDA team, 25 points
2. Bruno Sancho (Por) LA/Antarte team, 22 points
3. Samuel Caldeira (Por) Tavira/Prio team, 16 points
Tags: