Tuesday begins the biggest international race in Portugal, like the region of Algarve is. A very touristy place, known for its beaches and its sun. This race year after year brings more notorious riders, like Armstrong once, Zulle a decade ago and Petacchi in 2007. With not such a bad weather that we saw sometimes in France at this time, good roads and a good organization, a nice time on the calendar and especially now that Tour de California decided to move to May, we have one of the best pelotons here, i would say that perhaps is the best peloton we’ve in Portugal!

The race has the same format as the previous edition: two flat stages, one hilly and a ITT. The first day should be for the sprinters. Andre Greipel helped by Goss is the favourite, but they have to look for McEwen, Steegmans, Brown and Hushovd, that will do his first debut in the season.

Next day will be much harder for the teams who want to control the race. The riders will have a nice trip in the Serra de Monchique, with very ups and downs in their legs they will be very tired. The lasts 20km are flat and with some wind in the mix. If i’m not mistaken the finish should be in a 100 meters ramp, pretty steep!  Last year Koldo Fernandez won, Cardoso was second and Haussler third. These guys will be there this year too, really if this stage finishes on that ramp, there is no room for Greipel, McEwen... This day can create some surprises, don’t know if the main sprinters can resist, or even a breakaway can succeed!

Third day will be the most difficult, very hilly and should be decided in the final climb. O Alto do Malhão is only 3km, but steep! Last year Antonio Colom won at sprint against Contador, just behind arrived Bruno Pires, Tiago Machado, Blanco. You can see a long resume here.

Saturday should be a quiet stage, GC contenders trying to save energy for time trial, but the sprinters have their last opportunity.

In Sunday and last day, the peloton is back to Barlavento (western region of Algarve) with a 17,2km individual time trial. I saw the route and i used to do many times when trained cycling. Is a beautiful route along the coast with the ocean, often in sight. Is discovered so the wind sometimes is strong and almost flat except two or three steep ramps. The finish is in my hometown, i definitely will be there.

Looking for the teams and riders, Alberto Contador is clearly the favourite. Among his main threats are Leipheimer, Sylvain Chavanel (2nd last year), Sami Sanchez, Luis Leon Sanchez, CVV, Karpets, Tiago Machado, Rui Costa, David Blanco. For Leipheimer win, i think he have to do an outstanding time trial and crush Contador’s tempo. That final climb, is not for Levi, steep and short, like a sprint for puncheurs. So i think Machado can have some liberty here, since last year he finished in 4th. I think José Azevedo will do his fist debut like DS in Radio Shack, so, good luck for him! With LL Sanchez, Sami Sanchez and CVV coming this year, should make the race much more interesting!

Don’t forget riders like Ivanov, Joaquim Rodriguez, Casar, Monfort, Mosquera, Anton, Hesjedal, Bruno Pires or even Hugo Sabido that although the ITT aren’t their strong, could do some surprises especially in that hard stage.

17 Fev – 1ª Etapa: Estádio do Algarve – Albufeira, 157,5 km

18 Fev- 2 ª Etapa: Sagres – Lagos, 207,5 km

19 Fev – 3ª Etapa: Castro Marim – Alto do Malhão, 173,7 km

20 Fev – 4ª Etapa: Cacela – Tavira, 169 km

21 Fev – 5ª Etapa: Lagoa – Portimão, 17,2 km (C/R Ind.)

About the live streams there will not be, only daily summaries that Eurosport will do, and this is already a big step! Tickers will be in this site, and probably in the official site, you can see the altimetry of all stages in the official site too.

Last year Haussler begun his series of victories and great performances here in Algarve with a win in the first and last stage, maybe this year someone can appear here too. Any bets? Weylandt, Leezer, Rojas Gil, or even the forgotten Sebastian Chavanel ?!

Gratuitous, barely relevant Cardoso photo by James Knowler, Getty Images Sport

Warning: This will be a long reading, so enjoy listening this song of Carlos Paredes, our best guitar player in the Portuguese Guitar.:)

This morning began the Portuguese season with the “Grande Prémio de Abertura – Pingo Doce” and the winner was Filipe Cardoso (LA-Paredes Rota dos Móveis), after a bunch sprint. Only for curiosity, he his cousin of our olympic silver medalist in triathlon, Vanessa Fernades.

One more year and one less professional team, like it was in 2009. The current crisis and the doping cases that occur year after year, have contributed to extinguish the best teams, and keep away the sponsors. After the LA MSS scandal in 2008, three important riders were caught with CERA: the “winner” of TdP 2009 Nuno Ribeiro, his teammate Hector Guerra and a stage winner Eládio Jimenez of CCLoulé team. This caused the finish of Liberty Seguros, and almost all the riders of that team manage to find another in 2010. The teams who survived have now much less budget for the season and because of this the majority of reinforcements, are young riders and some veterans like Castanheira, Carlos Pinho (who retired after 19 years in the professional Portuguese peloton), Krasilev, and Garrido were released. The percentage of Portuguese riding in our peloton increase substantially.

With less teams and consequently less professional riders, the races in 2010 have a decrease too. The Volta ao Alentejo who was a great show last year, and have Miguel Indurain as a winner in his curriculum, will not realize in 2010. Weeks ago the Association of Municipalities of Évora, announce that hasn’t funds available, the Association of Tourism of Alentejo said that will try to arrange for 2011. Volta a Portugal decrease to 2.1 in 2010, and so, the organization can invite foreign Continental Teams.

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This tournament already started in Tavira, the hometown of Palmeiras Resort Tavira, portuguese continental team. Honestly, i didn't knew even that exist this kind of cycling. Seems the Germans are the specialists and the founders of this genre.

Some results and videos.

More info.

There is some game similar with soccer (cycle ball), but they shoot with the front wheel, but can defend with the hands!! The teams are formed by two players only.

example:

Seems cool!!

Tomorrow will begin the 71th Volta a Portugal, the route begins in Lisboa and the riders only will go east and north, a total of 1601km. Algarve and Alentejo will miss the peloton this year. (is almost like half-Portugal!!)

Volta a Portugal has a big history and is the showcase for our riders: Joaquim Agostinho, Marco Chagas, Alves Barbosa and more recently Orlando Rodrigues, José Azevedo, Candido Barbosa are icons of our national cycling and all of them left their mark in this race. The phenomenon in cycling of the fans who only see the TdF, happens here the same way with Volta a Portugal, portuguese doesn’t follow the national cycling but mostly see the Volta. For the portuguese teams this race could define a good from a bad season, i believe that most of the portuguese teams wouldn’t exist if this race hadn’t the media that has.

So like i said, Lisboa will open the race with a prologue of 2.4km, in the main avenue of our capital, the Avenida da Liberdade. Some years ago that the race didn’t go to Lisboa, but despite the show that will be, a beautiful one, i think is not the best idea start here because most of the people are in vacations, and the Algarve like last year should have more supporters in the streets.

Next day is the longest, probably will finish in a bunch sprint and Petacchi has his first opportunity. His main opponent will be our best sprinter Manuel Cardoso (Liberty Seguros), and currently our national champion. Candido Barbosa (Palmeiras Resort Tavira) should be in sprints too, and like last years he should take at least a stage. Oscar Gatto, the veteran Cesar Quitério (Loulé), Francisco Pacheco (Andalucia) who won 2 stages in 2008 and Danillo Hondo are the main sprinters here.

The third day is a hilly stage, who has a 3rd category climb about 11km to the finish, and another 3rd category climb in the finish, good final for Barbosa or even Ruben Plaza.

Next day and the GC conteders have their first big test, they will pass in Serra da Estrela, and a 1st category climb will appear in the middle of the stage.

Fifth day and one more mountain stage, the last 40km will have two 1st category climb, ending in Alto da Sra da Graça, a notorious climb here, with 8km and ramps of 12% gradient. Next day is the rest day, the GC contender have to prepare the second part of the race.

One flat stage, with some climbs but the sprinters should have their chances.

One more stage that finish with a 3km climb, and next two days for the sprinters.

Last two stages are decisive and will culminate in a beatifull fight between the GC contenders who survived to the many obstacles encountered so far. The penultime stage is the ascent to the Torre, a 28.5km climb to the higher point in Portugal Continental. This is the queen stage, and should be a great show!!

Last day is a flat 30.8km time trial that should decide the winner if still there is any doubt.

Making a summary, i think this is one of the best route of last years, with many climbs and mainly because has various stage that could dictate the winner, but not so many opportunities for the sprinters. Ten stages with a prologue, and a rest day between.  

There will start 123 riders for the Volta, one of the edition with fewer riders. Andalucia, Xacobeo Galicia, ISD-Neri, Contentpolis-Ampo, Landbouwkrediet-Colnago, PSK Whirlpool and Lampre are the foreign teams invited.

Talking about GC, there is two teams who should control the peloton and the race, Liberty Seguros have Hector Guerra who finished 2nd last two years, and Ruben Plaza the spanish champion.

The two spanish already showed this season good understanding, and i think the shared leadership shouldn’t be a problem. Honestly, Guerra should be the main favourite, but the door for a surprise from Plaza should stay open. Guerra has showed a great consistency in portuguese races and in Volta too, he won last two stage races that he raced: the Trofeu Joaquim Agostinho and in July the Vuelta a Madrid, showing a good progress for his main objective.

The other big team is Palmeiras Resort Tavira, but Candido Barbosa could be a factor of destabilization in the team. Barbosa is the most knowed and mediatic portuguese cycling, and portuguese fans are anxious to see a portuguese rider win the race again, he pursues this objective for years ending two times in 2nd and a 3rd too, but the 8th place last year, isn't a good sign. David Blanco winner of last year edition, and first foreign won 2 times the Volta, is the lider. Like last years he had a discrete season ending in good places but without a win.

Our other hope is Tiago Machado, the young man leader of Madeinox Boavista, finished in top10 last year with the young jersey. He is one of the most talented and agressive rider in our peloton, and already did some mistakes in his career because of that, but his speech is cleary, he knows that has to try to save energy and only use, in crucial points. He is a very good time trialist (our national ITT champion), and should be at front in hilly stages too, but the Torre and Senhora da Graça finishes, i have to see it first in front, to believe.

Damiano Cunego will be here too to prepare the Vuelta and the WC. My guess is that he should play a similar role that Cobo Acebo did last year: Top10 in GC, and a stage win.

João Cabreira, Bruno Pires, Santi Perez, Damiano Caruso,David Bernabeu (winner of TdP) are good riders, who could do surprises too, and they will try the GC.

A note for the almost 40 year rider Joaquim Andrade from LA- Rota dos Moveis, he already anounced his retirement in the final of the season but first he will conclude his 21th Volta!!

I hope you liked and assure that it will be a fantastic race.

Official site. (click in "etapas" , to see the profile stages)

Hei guys, there was a great weekend for portuguese cycling, i can’t remember when  a portuguese won a race outside of our country. Coincidence or not, in this day (10 May) of 1984, died our greatest cyclist Joaquim Agostinho, after a fall in a stage of Volta ao Algarve.

This isn’t his first victory, but one of the most important for him, mainly because it's his first in Caisse d’Epargne. There are many riders that lead all their careers to achieve a victory like this, Costa in his first oportunity, didn’t miss. How many guys won in first season? (i know isn’t his first but i think it's almost as if it were.). So, what i want to talk about here is what influence this sucess will have on a young guy like him?

Personal, he will be more motivated than ever, and he knows now that when is in good shape he is capable to race at front in pro level. How many young talents that came in pro level and and go unnoticed? Another thing an more important i think, is his status now on Caisse d’Epargne. I know that CGE is a big team and Costa have a long way to claim leadership (if some day it will), but in his first moment that his teammates worked for him, he won. This his a bust of confidence not for him, but for his teammates too, who now recognized him like a rider who can trust. I doubt in current year that Caisse will name Rui Costa their leader for any race, but in the next opportunity that he has,teammates and DS should help him again with more confidence so he can get another victory.

The fans here in Portugal are increasingly confident that this will be our next star, maybe the next Azevedo or even Agostinho, but yeah, is to early to guess. Looking at their current skills, i think he is a rider for classics, and how is good in ITT, should be good in a week stage race too. Never seem him in a big mountain stage, but i think he could has difficulties there, i presume that he is more a rider like Lovkvist or Gendermman. One of his dreams is win Tour de France, but until he do a big Tour, we can’t say if he is capable or not, most likely to see this, is await to next season.

He began this season in T-A, Milan San Remo and in April he did almost every Pro Tour Classics (missed LBL), and heii!!, a 58th in P-R for a first try, i think was pretty good?! And i think he was the first portuguese to finish that race!!  

Looking for CGE’s calendar in next months, i presume his next race should be Route du Sud (doubt that he will do Catalunha? if he goes should be a bonus for his victory!!), During the Tour he will come to Spain for some more races.

For the first time this season i went to site of Caisse d'Epargne, and is new and much more cool than 2008. I found this video with Eusebio Unzue talking about his young pupile:

Rui Costa par Eusebio Unzue
by Equipe-Cycliste-GCE

For who missed the queen stage and decisive of 4th Days of Dunkerque, here is the last 4km.Was quite exciting!!

 His home page.

In the final today's interview, was asked him about if he thinks he will win the TdF someday, the young talent responded " I want think step by step, one at a time". Keep this thinking, thanks GPE, congrats Rui Costa. Chapeau!!

What a fantastic race that was 27th Volta Alentejo. I would have loved if some TV did coverage. The stage race consisted in 5 stages: 2 initial flat, 1 time trial, the queen stage (average mountain), and then a final flat stage again.

Like last year in the first day a breakaway had suceed. Liberty Seguros and Madeinox Boavista controlled the peloton, but after 100km with many attempts to escape, the young french Maxime Bouet (Agritubel) managed to skip the peloton and took Glen Chadwick (Rock Racing) and Vitaly Kondrut (ISD) with him.

These three guys finish with a advantage of 34 seconds for the peloton where Bruno Lima (Madeinox) was the faster. The stage winner was Bouet who beat in sprint Glen Chadwick and Kondrut respectively.

So, like last year the Portuguese teams failed to control the race in the first day. The main favourite Hector Guerra (winner of last year) and others like Tiago Machado, Moreau or David Blanco, would have to do seriously work to recover the time lost for these three.

Second stage and early break made by Eládio Jimenez (CC Loulé-Louletano) and William Aranzazo (Boyaca es para vivirla) but they were caught near the finish. The stage finished in a bunch sprint and Filipe Cardoso (Liberty) won, Cesar Quitério (Loulé AcquaShow) in 2nd and Bruno Lima (Madeionx) in 3th.

Third stage was the 19km time trial around Beja. Hector Guerra did the best time and took the lead in GC. Moreau was second in the ITT, and third was Timofey Kritskiy (Katusha).

In GC, Guerra led with less than two seconds for Kondrut, and three for Bouet.

On saturday was the queen stage (6 mountain's categories), and for the comments that i saw in Portuguese forums: "the most exciting of the season so far". With 60kms to finish Oscar Sevilha and Mancebo incorporated a group of 17 riders who led the race. The group had 2 minutes of advantage and even Isidro Nozal (Liberty) who was in that group, had to wait for the peloton to work for Guerra.

This group was caught, and in the final climb (6km to the finish) Hector Guerra had no teammates. However, this wasn't enough as Guerra was still able to caught in the last kilometer Glen Chadwick and Tiago Machado who had jumped the peloton. Guerra brought with him a group of some riders where the fastest was our veteran Candido Barbosa who took his first victory in Palmeiras Resort Tavira.

In the beggining of last day the GC remained the same, and Hector Guerra could be the first rider to win the Volta ao Alentejo for two times.

GC:

1º Héctor Guerra (Liberty Seguros), 13h29m56s
2º Vitaliy Kondrut (ISD), a 2s
3º Maxime Bouet (Agritubel), a 3s
4º Christophe Moreau (Agritubel), a 18s
5º Glen Chadwick (Rock Racing), a 19s

So, in the last stage, Hector Guerra only had to pay attention to intermediate sprints and the final sprint. For the first point Liberty let a breakaway of ten riders to gain the intermediates sprints, but when this group had a gap of 1.30, Liberty took the chase. Initially thought that Liberty will let this breakaway suceed, but the gap was down to 20 seconds!! Palmeiras took that help and caught the fugitives. Was more one bunch sprint and the finish was a little uphill, Candido Barbosa (Palmeiras) took his second stage at sprint, and surprises of the surprises: Maxime Bouet (Agritubel) was third!!! and took the yellow jersey, for one second!!

One more time the DS of Libery Seguros (Américo Silva) wasn’t good in the picture because Liberty helped to chase that front group where weren’t any GC threat. Even in the final sprint, unlike Moreau and Nicolas Jalabert who helped Bouet to take that third place, in Liberty no one helped Guerra in that finish, and he was 4th just behind Bouet!! For Hector Guerra this is his third Volta ao Algarve that he finished with the best time. In 2004 he had a penalization because of his time trial (many criticized the decision of the judges). Last year he won, and in this edition, he lost because of the bonus times. (in the three last editions there wasn’t!!)

Volta ao Alentejo has proud to say that probably is the only race that in 27th editions, nobody has won more than one edition.

I just saw the last news edition in CN. And reading the “Haussler, the confidence” report, i highlight this sentence from the so far, revelation of the season:

"The main thing is the confidence”

Thinking about this guy, he did somethings interesting last years, and already attracted our attention. In sprints he usually finished in top 5 at least, or even in podium, but winning?!! My ideia of him in cobbles is that he had some interesting results in previous years, but nothing like that we are seeing.

Every athletes have two sides: physical and mental. HH improve in both, especially in menthal. So what is main factor to raise confidence, start winning, a new team?

About sprinting in his case (who already proved his ability) i think confidence is the key like he said, but coobles isn't enough!! I suspect that he did very hard work in winter (different from previous years) and learn very much in this team, especially with some experienced like Hunt and Hammond, Klier. And about his new DD? He or they have credits in training guys for cobbles?

His move for Cervelo was the right choose, he finally did the jump that we are expected, now let see if he can keep it there.

Thinking in guys that can't win, first thought goes for: Juan Antonio Flecha!!  He has everything to win stages, classics, but he can’t, why? I think his time for he move to another team... quickly.

About Ciolek, i think his time in Team Columbia was not good for him. In Telekom he won the confidence to take stages, now he lack in that. Let see what he can do this year, i think he only need to start winning to have a wonderful season.

 What is your thoughts about who have high or low confidence right now? We will see Haussler keeping this form in next weeks or is too much for him?

Yesterday was the decisive time trial in Volta ao Algarve and Alberto Contador keeps winning every race who starts. I leave Portimão in the morning and when i arrive in Tavira (the finish of the time trial), had time for lunch and see the bus of the teams. The place i choose for my pics, was behind the Garmin bus and i was near Julian Dean, Millar, Pate, Maaskjant (i think he didn’t the ITT). The mechanic was a nice guy and i had a little chat with him about the riders, Portugal, and the bikes... meanwhile i took this picture.

via img9.imageshack.us

I was a few hundreds of the finish and there was many people, more older guys who cycling is a tradition mainly in Tavira and of course when a home rider pass, everyone was shouting high. Sérgio Paulinho did a nice top20 and as you can see in the right side there was mens who bring his radio to listen the results.

via img90.imageshack.us

There was a lot of riders who overcome the rider, especially in the finalle. Here there was 3 guys finish almost the same moment. Many times the slipstream wasn’t respect...

Tony Martin? If was him he did the 6th best time.

via img502.imageshack.us

Monfort overcome a FdJeux rider in last meters, he was twelve in ITT.

via img502.imageshack.us

Was a nice day, and i didn’t took photos of the podium and Contador "arrow hand", because my baterry finished.But for the aussies and after i missed him in road, i had to take a "paparazzi" photo of McEwen. 

via img98.imageshack.us

via img98.imageshack.us

Today Henrich Haussler took his second stage beating Van Avermaet and Weylandt. Seems that the young german is taking the taste of wins.

Volta ao Algarve begins wednesday in a sunny week unlike last year and ToC these days. The race finish Sunday, and return too a model that the last i remember was when...imagine, Floyd Landis’s won in 2004. I was there to see Armstrong and his "armada" (Azevedo, Hincapie) when Landis won the stage that finish in a 2, or 3km uphill named "Alto do Malhão". Landis took the yellow jersey too from Armstrong, who won the ITT the day before. So looking for this year the race will be complete what pleases the Portuguese DS, unlike 2007 when Petacchi won the general classifications and 3 stages, and last year was Devolder when won the ITT (and GC) and rest in the others flat stages.

In January there were rumors that Eurosport would follow the race on live, but this will not happen, which is a pity because I think the race could be very exciting and would be very good for tourism in the Algarve, the main activity here.

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I know that you are focused in TOC, but here in “little” Algarve will begin the stage race in Portugal with better startlist of the season, no doubt about that. But before i talk about the race, i want to talk first, something about how things are here.

I originally thought about doing a post on the Volta ao Algarve and Portuguese teams for 2009, but then began to write and noticed it was much text to read below, sorry....

 This season we have one less professional team here, and not one Professional Continental team. Benfica\Lagos Sport and LA MSS ended, the first because, Benfica did not want to continue the sponsorship and Lagos Sport alone could not sustain the cycling team.. About LA MSS you know the story, many riders are suspended as the team, and they had no choice than stop.

With this two losses the teams that are in active this season are stronger because some of riders of LA MSS and Benfica move to others.

Liberty Seguros:

If last year was already a strong team (the 2nd best Continental Team in ranking's CQ), this year is better. Despite the loose of Koldo Gil and Urtasun (didn’t did much here), the mainly entry of Ruben Plaza and José Mendes (both ex-Benfica), will give more solutions to Américo Silva (DS). I'm curious to see the first professional year of  Ricardo Vilela , another promise of portuguese cycling. So, if Américo this year can’t win Tour of Portugal with this quality in his squad, he will never win...

Palmeiras Resort Tavira.

Almost the same last year, but the entry of Candido Barbosa (Ex-Benfica) will give more media's attention for the Tavira. In team apresentation they call himself, the best team that Tavira had in his history, and this team are knowed as the older professional team cycling in Europe.

Barbosa is currently the most recognized portuguese cyclist, and for the Tour of Portugal is the right guy to call the media with “lot of smiles”. In addition, and despite a last season with many injuries, he could take some stage's wins and will be a good suport for David Blanco (winner of TdP 2008), maybe Barbosa may repeat the top10 of last year.

Liberty and Tavira are the two best teams here. The others four are: Barbot-Siper, almost the same last year but loose Francisco Pacheco for Murcia and he was the best sprinter here (5 wins last year, two in TdP).

Centro de Ciclismo de Loulé-Louletano-AquaShow

The team that improved most is CC Loule, last year was the weakest but now have Eladio Jimenez (ex-Fercase), João Cabreira (ex-LA MSS and the national champion) and some more new reinforcements. I think this team could be the surprise of the year, João Cabreira was essential in the victory of Tondo in TdP 07 and he is the best portuguese climber, this moment is perfect for he assume the leadership and try to win the TdP. After Nuno Ribeiro win’s in 2003, will be this year that we have a portuguese winning the Tour of Portugal again? Maybe is too soon, but we need a new national heroe, quickly!!

Fercase Rota dos Moveis.

Mancebo and Jose Eladio Jimenez left, but Constantino Zaballa(ex- LA MSS) and Hugo Sabido (ex. Barloworld) entered. In general i think is better because Jimenez and even Mancebo had a poor last year. Sabido and mainly Zaballa could have some victories in a near future, but for TdP i don’t expect much. Zaballa is good classic guy and a good for short stage races, the same about Hugo Sabido, but none have a powerfull ITT, or are climbers for a stage that finish in“Torre”. (mythical mountain in TdP)

Madeinox-Boavista

A few days ago was the team apresentation, and the surprise was they assume that this year the mainly objective is win TdP and have a team capable of doing that!! I have some serious doubts...

They had strong reinforcements with Daniel Petrov (ex-Benfica and a good climber), Santi Perez from CCL and João Benta (neo-pro and the winner of TdP of the future 2008), but the lider of his team  is Tiago Machado (24 years old). Who followed TdP last year know him, because he took the young jersey from Daniel Martin in last stage, the final ITT.

Early realized that Tiago Machado is a future Tdp winner (if not choose the same path the Sergio Paulinho ), and this team since last year is being prepared for his leadership. He had last year his first major victory (GP Troféu Joaquím Agostinho 2.2) and was second in crono and road race of our national championship. I remember in the prologue of TdP last year, in the teams apresentation, Marco Chagas (winner of four TdP in 80’s and currently the “portuguese Liggett”) asked Tiago if he are there to win TdP 08, and he says: “My objective is finish in top 10 and win the young jersey, winning is very dificult for who never placed in top10”. Machado finish 9th with the young jersey.

He have a very good ITT, maybe not so good than Guerra or Blanco but he can get there, however in a climb like “Torre” i’m serious doubts if he can follow the favorites. Last year in that stage he loose almost 5min for Blanco!! I think is too early for he win TdP, but we will see what he can does this season... if he have a good day in “Torre”, he can win TdP.

I think Machado have one more or two year to win TdP, after that, he maybe take the same path of Jose Azevedo and Sergio Paulinho who left Portugal without winning our most prestigious race.

In general i think the quality of Portuguese peloton is good like last year. But this year is more balanced, every teams have riders that can win various races, breaking the hegemony of two, three teams of last year.

What has worsened again, and each time it has been worse is the lack of employment, the global crisis affect Portugal too,and cycling of course. Some riders like Eladio Jimenez and Joao Cabreira was already talk conversation with a new team Cartaxo, and only in January that team say that had no money to have a professional team, and now, Cartaxo have only a sub23 team. Many sub23 teams have riders more older who cannot rider like Pena Iza and others portuguese riders, in the hope of the middle of the season being employed.

There is the main professional races in Portugal, for this season:

18.02.2009 22.02.2009 Volta ao Algarve POR 2.1

01.04.2009  05.04.2009  Volta ao Alentejo em Bicicleta  POR  2.1

14.05.2009  17.05.2009  GP Internacional Paredes Rota dos Móveis  POR  2.2 

11.06.2009  14.06.2009  GP Internacional CTT Correios de Portugal  POR  2.1

08.07.2009  12.07.2009  GP Internacional Torres Vedras - Joaquim Agostinho  POR  2.2

05.08.2009  16.08.2009  Volta a Portugal em Bicicleta - EDP  POR  2.HC

In next days i will do a preview for Volta ao Algarve, hope you enjoy...

Even if you don’t care about portuguese national team in Olympics, is my duty to my country to announce here. And, if some portuguese win anything in next week, you will blame me for not having written anything about them... lol

So, ours hops will be in sub23, Rui Costa (Benfica) and Vitor Rodrigues (Liberty Seguros) will be our leaders. The parcous isn’t perfect for them, the last year suits better, this one is a quite flat. Anyway, Costa can sprint too, in a small group he can win. If finish in a bunch sprint, Marco Cunha will be at service, a top15/10 would be good. The gregarios will be João Benta (Santa Maria da Feira/E.Lecrec), Henrique Casimiro (Tavira/Palmeiras Resort) e César Fonte (Benfica). Here, Portugal should work in peloton, this two are true favorites to win, i think.

Rui Costa and Vitor Rodrigues will be in time trial race too.

In elite, Sérgio Paulinho (Astana) will be the leader, these days at Vuelta he already decided with Bettini when will execute the victorious attack. The rest of the team are climbers, the one that could sprint too is Candido Barbosa, but he refuse to participate justifying  a long season!! (bullshit). So Tiago Machado (Madeinox-Tavira)  and José Mendes (Benfica) both with 23 years old are possible surprises, Machado maybe, he have a great future for sure. Nuno Ribeiro (Liberty Seguros) despite is nice 28th in Olympics, this profile is worse for him. Nelson Vitorino and Ricardo Mestre (Palmeiras Resort-Tavira) are the others riders, the first is a veteran with 33, Mestre have 25, but both feels better in mountains.

The tactics here is, attack, attack and attack!! If can’t, stay at least in the peloton. No time trial elite race for Portugal.

In sub23 I’m anxious to see the race, not the same feeling in elites because only if a miracle happens ,we can see something like Athens 2004.

After the fire of Gusev and the contract agreements of nine riders, a new lieutenant will come to the team: Haimar Zubeldia a big tour rider. In Euskaltel Euskadi since running, he achieved three times the top10 in the Tour of France. I remember him when he did great combos with Mayo against Armstrong, pretty stages was.

After 10 years in his team, he maybe lacks motivation because this season was the worst for him, even in the Tour he couldn’t perform well and eventually replaced by Samuel Sanchez in this race.

With 31 years he can still return to their high performance, something i don´t believe for Leipheimer.So I think that one day (maybe already next year) he will replace the status of Leipheimer, seems the american is loosing some ability, especially in the mountains. With Contador as a leader this year, he have a great companion now with the same characteristics and the same nationality, I think is a major factor for his hiring.

So, seems that lack a lider in cooblestones races, Rast and Vaitkus are the ones that usually do this type of races. Maybe Astana may not want to go to Paris-Roubaix next year?

The press release in site of Astana.

With some patience of Crashdan i could do a route map of the 3th stage.

Tomorrow is the first big test for the contenders. Will be 171km with 3 climbs, finish in "Torre" a mythical climb in Portugal, is like Galibrier or Alpe d’Huez in the Tour.This is the higher point in Portugal (islands not include), but the path of this year is new, never climbed a race until the top down this path. So will be strange for almost every riders, training is one thing, compete is other...

It begins in Idanha-a-Nova and will be a flat path of 71km before the first difficulty. In "Unhais da Serra" begins the 2th categorie climb with 20km.  The sprinters will loose the pace here.

via i38.tinypic.com

(Click in the pictures to enlarge)

More on the flip...

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There has been controversial days with much debate and two sides, some favourables, others don’t agree about the decision of PAD (organizer of TDP) to exclude LA MSS of Tour de Portugal.

To remember,it begin in middle of May when PJ (Portuguese police) search the LA MSS place and his riders’s house , in his press release PJ said that found some suspect material (syringes, drugs and one centrifuge). Some days of many news, and finally the “Conselho de Estrada”, an advisory body of portuguese federation, sent a press release warning the organizations of the Portuguese's races, for not invite LA MSS, breaking a rule that these organizations are obligated to invite every Continental Portuguese teams. Despite that, LA MSS already couldn’t run because in that time the insurance’s rider was cancelled by Liberty Seguros (a sponsor of a rival team), and riders had no insurance, however Manuel Zeferino already find a new insurer weeks after. With this, LA MSS could ride again if the organizations invite them because for UCI ,everything is legal.

After some absent races from LA MSS because the no insurances, portuguese federation apparently with no reasons (nobody tested positive), without justifications, decided suspend 9 persons, 5 portuguese riders and Manuel Zeferino (DS), the physiotherapist, the president and other staff person. With no Director sports but with some riders that can ride, LA MSS found a person who can replace Manuel Zeferino in the races few weeks after, and came to the road, but not in Portugal.

In the national championship Portuguese federation authorized, with two riders, two non suspensed and one of them was João Cabreira who win the race crying in his interview when spoke about the injustice of his team and his teammate. During the Tour de France the team finally came in races, in the Vuelta a la Comunidad de Madrid where win a stage with Vicioso, and a second in Classica de Ordizia. Meanwhile spanish riders gave some interview, first the veteran Jose Garrido, Constantino Zaballa, and Angel Vicioso too.

The confirmation of PAD came less than a week ago, LA MSS and Xavier Tondo  (winner in 2007) don’t will ride the TdP.

Since the beginning there is a suspicious about Benfica, since Valenciana they didn’t win a race, very poor results. Candido Barbosa and Jose Azevedo go very discreet this season and some recognized people say it was Benfica who made the complaint leading to the search of PJ. Benfica in cycling is sponsor by Lagos Sport, a company of sporting events that organizes Open do Estoril, Lisboa-Dakar, and for worse, the Volta a Portugal too!!!  

There have to be a really strong reason for federation suspend LA MSS, no more justifications were given beyond that press release of PJ, and many people doubt the methods of that search. Meanwhile some arguments because teams with already doping cases this season are invite, like Lampre, Barloworld, CSF Group Navigare and Saunier Duvall, the difference is the problematic riders are excluded from their teams.

This situation is very sad, many sites supporting LA MSS asking for signatures, others not. This is the main theme discussed in all Portuguese blogs and forums, but this season are spoiled with this event.

I think the decision of PAD of not invite LA MSS was the correct, but I have many doubts of their suspended, I hope portuguese federation will resolve this as soon as possible but seems not.

I take the liberty to do a news post about Euro2008.(hope it's ok...)

The schedule for the quarter final is:

Today (Thursday 19 June), 20.45 CET    Portugal vs Germany

Tomorrow (Friday 20 June), 20.45 CET Croatia vs Turkey

Saturday 21 June, 20.45 CET  Netherland vs Russia

Sunday 22 June, 20.45 CET  Spain vs Italy

This is two videos of two strikers.

The first is Eusébio the The Black Panther , best portuguese soccer player. Maybe Ronaldo is better now, but i have sure that he can't do that, (look how many guys he pass in 4º goal) Look this video, Portugal was losing for 3-0 in half time, and finish winning 5-3!! This is a mitic game here.

In Germany, had a striker, which is the oldest player still in my time, that I remember. Maybe in their two or three final years of career, but I still remember him in Euro96 and World Cup98.Jurgen Klinsmann .

Hope for a BIG Game today.

"Today José Azevedo from Benfica wins the Tour of Portugal, and 5.000 fans waiting in Benfica's stadium to receive and applaud the team". This is just a thought, but the point i want to come is: if exist historical teams in these days, there would be many more fans? And I think there must be progress in this direction as there was when cycling became a race of teams. Ok, you are thinking that isn’t possible because of the sponsors, I will give my idea ahead.

Now I will give you some examples: In Algarve (region of Portugal) there is a team "Palmeiras Resort-Tavira " which is known: the oldest team of the international peloton (founded  in 1979). This team has been supported by the city council of Tavira, they moving sponsors like others, but the name of Tavira is always there. In this city everyone knows the team, and despite not knowing the riders, they always support the team like a symbol of the city and this is already a traditional cycling city in Portugal.

The three major teams of soccer in Portugal had cycling teams in the 70s and 80s and this was the best moment of Portuguese cycling , at least with a lot more fans. To give you an idea, national stadium was used at the end of last chrono of TdP, 20.000 people used to be there.

via www.ciclismosjver.host.sk

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Last year there is another phenomenon, the Benfica, the major soccer team in Portugal (half population are fan of this team, 5 millions) came with a new team of cycling and in TdPortugal there is a new type of fans who despite don’t know about cycling are interested only because Benfica racing. This team is like a religion for many peoples.

Teams can last for decades, a career of a rider lasts no more than a decade and half, then are only memories. I am sure that in Armstrong era many americans came to the Tour only to see him, but imagine if its happen with the teams. Some people born already with a team because of his family tradition. Imagine songs created by group of supporters, ok some of them are problematic…

You can see the same about nationalities, people goes to the Big Tours to see his compatriots, the teams are one more reason to go. You can talk about Mapei, and now Quick-Step. Team Telekom before T-Mobile and know Team High Road. But the name is different, the region is different and in the case of High Road fortunately the mentality is different too. When you talk with your sons, grandchildren about US Postal, about Quick-Step or CSC achievements, they will can’t understand the meaning of that team.

The main reason that can be happen is because not exists money without sponsors. And maybe my thinking is a little utopia, but I will contest the structure of a Pro Tour Team. A Pro Tour Team in cycling is based on his nationality, and not a city or region. If the name don’t include a region or a city how can they have loyal supporters.Nationality is already reserved for national team, "teams" are for cities or regions...

(There is some exceptions, Euskatel for exemple, and we see what happens in the Pyrenees of a Tour or Vuelta...)

Ok, in cycling don’t are tickets to win some money, but I’m looking to soccer and the ticket’s money are insignificant for the best teams despite the monthly pay of supporters are important, and this could be doing in cycling, maybe already has. The DS and others managers have to think not in a cycle but in a future for the team.

We know that will be many financial problems and I don’t have enough knowledge to discuss that, i think we must build a team for root, support by a city or region, with a school, but early school, not only sub23. Of course with sponsors, but always present who this team represents...

I think this will be a very courageous but good step for cycling, is my opinion...

Hello, this is my first post and i’m sad because is about bad things...

Some days ago Bruno Neves, rider of LA MSS, died on a fall. This happens days before a scandal come to the top. The portuguese police discover some equipment in the facilities of the LA MSS and in the houses of some riders. I see in the news the equipment of police found and i think is normal for a cycling team: syringes, medicines and a centrifuge. There is 12 persons (2 riders) suspect of this activities. To worsen the situation, yesterday came the news that Bruno Neves died in cardiac arrest before falling. Some riders of the peloton confirm this, saying BN felt without reaction. The autopsy its not finish yet. The doctor of this team is Marco Maynar, one more Spanish. (someone know him?). The portuguese anti-doping agency can’t do anything because they haven’t a positive test yet. One more news today, seems the drugs were taken to a laboratory in Galicia (spanish region), there is some speculation these days...

Manuel Zeferino is the most prestigious and for me and many fans the best Team Director of Portugal.  He won Tour of Portugal many times, and he relaunched the careers of many cyclists. Ex: Claus Mohler, winner of a TdP, 8º in GC of Vuelta 2000, and this team with another name, wins the team classifications in Vuelta 2000 too. More recently he took Xavier Tondo when he worked in a factory of tomatoes a few years ago, and last year he won the TdP. Manuel Zeferino has the best results of any team director in Portugal for last ten years (the same prefil that Manolo Saiz, I think?). Honestly I admire him (MZ) and I’m very surprise with all this.

Portuguese peloton this year is much stronger than previous years, thanks to the last hour’s hiring of spaniards who came to occupy the leaders of teams. Very spanish are overshadowed by Operation Puerto: Francisco Mancebo (Fercase), Ruben Plaza (Benfica), Angel Vicioso and Constantino Zaballa for LA-MSS. Came some news that Oscar Sevilha would go to the Benfica but with the hiring of Ruben Plaza, the team had no money to pay to the spanish rider.

 Many speculation in todociclismo.com and as.com in early season because the portuguese teams welcomed this Operation Puerto’s riders excluded from spanish teams. The season begins too, with the dismissal of Jose Pecharroman by Benfica because some medicinies that the rider used. Like the soccer (>50% are Brazilian), basket (50% are Americans), the cycling in Portugal, in professional teams, are invaded of spaniards. We (portuguese) have very good riders, why we can not copy only the good things of spanish cycling…

The OP is like a contagious disease in Cycling, now seems to arrive at Portugal. Unlike OP, i hope that case of LA MSS is clarified, the doubt is the worst feeling that a case of trial can be. But this case is already on trial in portuguese public square. In TV is very rare talk about cycling, only about TdPortugal or TdF in the year some times, but now, again for bad reasons, has showed in all news. My friends, fans of sports, talk with me about cycling, once again because of doping.

The LA MSS recently put three guys in the three first position in the Vuelta Asturias , and last week the same in GP Internacional Paredes Rota dos Móveis . This team is top3 in Portugal and now is finished, like Manuel Zeferino career too. The home city council, broke the contracts and the sponsors want too. I hope this two riders suspect are the spanhish guys, anyway the portuguese riders will always have a mark on his career, like OP riders. It’s a shame because João Cabreira maybe is the best climber in the peloton and only with 26 years old.

My pity goes for the riders who will be innocent, and for Luis Almeida. He is the president of LA-Aluminios, a company that helps the amateur cycling for 30 years and the professional for 10 years. Almeida is an amateur rider and a lover of cycling and do not deserve this.

Until now I reiterate: there is still nothing concrete, unless the end of the LA MSS team.

Yesterday it was announced the Tour of Portugal 2008. Will be in August like usually, but more difficult than ever. The queen stage, the climb of the mythical “Torre” is in stage 3, so soon!

The 7º, 9º stage finish in a 5km mountain. The tour ends already with a 40km ITT, but this time with a finish of a 1.5km difficult rise. The non Portuguese teams are:

Lampre, Saunier Duvall, Slipstream again (i’m glad), Barloworld, Ceramica Flamina, Karpin Galicia, Serramenti PVC, Agritubel (maybe Moreau?), Estremadura.

The prologue and the begins of the first stage are in Portimão, in Algarve. This is my home town, and I’m on holidays there. I pray for a DZ or CVV in TdP?

Nice training for my english, sorry for the extensive text I hope you understand…