Top! Lukas Rüegg sprints to ninth place in second stage – Lukas Meiler improves to fourth place overall in 84th Volta Portugal UCI 2.1
Top! Lukas Rüegg sprints to ninth place in second stage – Lukas Meiler improves to fourth place overall in 84th Volta Portugal UCI 2.1 after strong performance
The heat was one of the big opponents today. 35 degrees on the second stage from Abrantes to Vila Franca de Xira over 177 kilometers. Nevertheless – today offensive was again in demand and it should come.
Lukas Meiler on the offensive – Lukas Rüegg finishes
In the last third of the race Lukas Meiler attacked. He is able to break away with four other rivals and with a sprint win gets bonus seconds for the overall classification at the last intermediate sprint. The German pro is also in third place at the mountain classification. Then the pursuit race starts towards the finish. Meiler shook off all comers and fought back as a soloist until the ten-kilometer mark. Vermeulen, Stüssi and Knolle kept the pace high for Lukas Rüegg until the last kilometer.
Lukas Meiler improves to fourth place overall
In the sprint of the peloton the Swiss finishes very well in ninth place today. Again a top result after rank 14 from yesterday. Also today the Colombian Ruben Linarez (CT Team Tafver) wins. He is also the leader in the overall ranking. BUT Lukas Meiler has now moved up to fourth overall. Moran Vermeulen is tenth overall.
Great again today the compact team performance over the whole day. The whole team is permanently in front and acts proactively!
Tomorrow the longest stage from Sines to Loule over 192 kilometers. Long and sweaty, but with the focus on the overall classification and not missing a group.
Result: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/volta-a-portugal/2023/stage-2
Overall ranking https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/volta-a-portugal/2023/stage-2-gc
Stage overview
09.08. Prologue Viseu – Viseu 3,6 Km
10.08. Stage 1 Anadia – Ourem 188.5 Km
11.08. Stage 2 Abrantes – Vila Franca de Xira 177.3 Km
12.08. Stage 3 Sines – Loule 191.8 Km
13.08. Stage 4 Estremoz – Castelo Branco 184,5 km
14.08. Stage 5 Macao – Covilha 184,3 Km
15.08. Stage 6 Penamacor – Guarda 168,5 Km
16.08. Rest day
17.08. Stage 7 Torre de Moncorvo – Montalegre 162,6 Km
18.08. Stage 8 Boticas – Fafe 146,7 Km
19.08. Stage 9 Paredes – Mondim de Basto 174,5 Km
20.08. Stage 10 Viana do Castelo – Viano do Castelo 16,3 Km
Line-up Team Vorarlberg: Lukas Rüegg, Moran Vermeulen, Lukas Meiler, Jon Knolle, Pirmin Benz, Oscar Cabedo, Colin Stüssi;
Press service Team Vorarlberg