Written by Finz of NightmareChaos
Porto Prologue
We start our first stage in the city of Porto. The starting porlogue for the Volta ao Porto is short and nasty with many bends through downtown Porto. Rider, build for the timetrial are in an advantage here. Three of the favourites in this stage are;
Theobold Rippel, Burren Connemara
Christof Ahnfeldt-Mollerup, Peloton Pushers
Thorsten Roberts, rooney17
Porto – Viana do Castelo
With the leader known for the second stage, or first if you do not count a prologue as a real stage, we ride to Viana do Castelo. A flat stage with little hills that should hurt the riders a little but not enough to make an inpact in the final. The sprinters and contenders for the green jersey should grab their first points here. Riders to watch are;
Franz Amelung, Team JAN
Bernd Frans, mapei bianchi
Keith Randolph, logoloos
Viana do Castelo – Portelinha
The first stage that brings us in accented terrain is the stage to Portelinha. These mountains will show us where the real strength is located. On the mountain finish in Portelinha we will see the riders that will probably battle for the overall victory. Riders to watch are;
Ammar Zenagui, iheb pro team
Oskar Kvam, Joss
Jacinto Aires, Ultras Spirit
Porto – Aveiro
After the big mountain stage to Portelinha the | | riders have a reasonable stage that suits the sprinters with some power. The hills around Aveiro should test the legs and with a sprint on a small hill only the strongest riders will battle for the victory.
Franz Amelung, Team JAN
Laurens Bruaene, Cremtec
Chris Ezeugo, sivac
Aveiro (ITT)
In Aveiro a long time trial awaits us and here the dreams over winning the Volta ao Porto can be shattered to pieces for those that fail to produce a more than decent time here. Winners of this stage are not the winners of the tour.
Anastasio Marroquin, EpoTopTeam
Alfred Kriby, Peloton Pushers
Aaron Langhorn, Velo Kiwi
Aveiro – Penamacor
From Aveiro the circus continues to Penamacor, a small mountain village near the Serra da Malcata. The climbers will battle it out in the mountains near the Spanish border and the overall classification will settle in a definitive version.
Connell Severo, sivac
Patryk Drozdowski, Team Stredet
Anastasio Marroquin, EpoTopTeam
Macedo de Cacaleiros – Vinhais
Just below the big Parque Natural de Montesinho is Vinhais, a small town surrounded by high mountains. Located in the north of Portugal, it could be very chilly for the riders. Passing Braganca and visiting many high points the best climbers will be in front, no doubt. A big leap could be made to win the Volta by those who finish upfront.
| | src="http://www.cyclingsimulator.com/Flag/Spain.gif"> Anastasio Marroquin, EpoTopTeam
Jaconto Aires, Ultras Spirit
Ammar Zenagui, iheb pro team
Vinhais – Vinhais
Around Vinhais the riders will battle it out on stage eight in the hills and with a finish in the town. Sprinters will be trying to secure valuable points here and maybe the climbers want to sprint with them to snatch some valuable seconds.
Ely Henault, English Sprinting Team
Farruco Alonso, PEKAC B
Kennt Bendixen, rooney17
Porto (ITT)
We have returned to Porto and the Volta is nearing its end. A big time trial around the city, the big riders against the clock want a second shot at a stage win and maybe an overall contender wants to go for his final chance.
Eugene Massengill, Peloton Pushers
Theobold Rippel, Burren Connemara
Leander Korneliussen, Cremtec
Porto – Porto (Parade)
The parade race through Porto says it all, happy faces for those that have won things and tensed faces for those that want to win something. Is this stage vital for the green jersey or is it just a sprinters ball for goat's fur.
Danyon Miller, Velo Kiwi
Hafsteinn Sveinlaugursson, Team EksilFG
Franz Amelung, Team JAN
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