“Alentejana”: more international. step-up increases competitive level.
The Volta ao Alentejo Agricultural Credit arrives, this year, earlier and will be more competitive. Between 22 and 26 February, starting in Portalegre and end in Évora, the "Alentejo" climbed another rung on the hierarchy of the UCI – Union Cycliste Internationale and returns to the level 2.1 opening doors to the participation of more and better teams of world cycling.
19 Teams, Lobby dejected's Movistar, training who won the world ranking, in 2016, They will compete in almost 900 kilometers of the competition organized by Podium Events in partnership with CIMAC – Intermunicipal Community of Central Alentejo.
Joaquim Gomes, Director of the Volta ao Alentejo, this edition of the competition "ensure, once again, the presence in the four sub-regions of Alentejo with the involvement of about three dozen and a half of Municipalities ". The step-up is also a source of pride. "It's a step, important, towards the recovery of the international status that the evidence sported in years 90. No benefit, of course, large mountain routes, the Alentejo plains reveal, long ago, other arguments, applied to the fantastic world of cycling, They have provided epic battles in the struggle for leadership, quer da “Alentejana”, or the Tour of Portugal ", recalls Joaquim Gomes.
Map of "Alentejo"
For the third consecutive year, the Volta ao Alentejo Agricultural Credit will start in the high Alentejo capital. Of Portalegre Castelo de Vide, Squad 152 men will face the smallest route (158 kilometers), but also the most difficult mountain with four counts in the Serra de São Mamede Natural Park. The arrival in Castelo de Vide is scheduled for 16 hours, predictable schedule for every stage of final.
Following an opening path hillier, the squad will start ripping lowland roads, between Monforte e Portel, with the "Great Lake" Alqueva, as background. A second stage (170 kilometers) You will have a unique mountain prize in Monsaraz. The third taken, the longest, with 208 km, will lead the caravan Mourao to Mértola, a “Capital “do Vale do Guadiana. The fourth day of the race will start in Odemira, and, after 175 kilometers, in the Alentejo coast only if leaves cover the Serra de Grândola, will end Alcacer do Sal.
At the end, and the way to the ceremony of coronation of the 35th winner of the Volta ao Alentejo, the connection is made almost 170 kilometers between Ferreira do Alentejo and Évora, with the Alentejo to return, symbolically, proof the Alentejo Central.
Summary Steps 2017 (look here: ALENTEJANA 2017- routes)
1Th Stage – 22.02 – Symbolic game: 12h00 – Portalegre / Castelo de Vide - 158km
2Th Stage – 23.02 – Symbolic game: 11h50 - Monforte / Portel - 171,3km
3Th Stage – 24.02 – Symbolic game: 10h50 – Mourao / Mértola – 208,0km
4Th Stage – 25.02 – Symbolic game: 11h45 – Odemira / Alcacer do Sal - 175,2km
5Th Stage – 26.02 – Symbolic game: 11h50 - Ferreira do Alentejo / Évora – 168,9km
unique sporting event in the history of cycling
Born in 1983, the Volta ao Alentejo now know a new completion date and a new statute that relaunches again on the calendar of the most important international competitions. The evidence continues to maintain a single sports status throughout the world given the competition organized by stages within the ICU because nobody won the race twice in 34 previous editions.
This year with a squad even more international this curiosity becomes more relevant. Among the pre registered runners there is only one man who can repeat the feat. Spaniard Carlos Barbero, Now the service of the World Tour Movistar team, Encore can the victory achieved in 2014 and break tradition.
Past winners of the Volta ao Alentejo: 2016 -Enric More (Klein Constantia), 2015 - PawelBernas (Activejet Team), 2014 - Carlos Barbero (Euskadi) … Há 10 year old (2007) – Manuel Vazquez (Andalucia-Cajasur), There 20 year old (1997) - Aitor Garmendia (Once) e Há 30 year old (1987) - Joaquim Salgado (Garcia Jeweler).
Great Brands at Podium
They are under discussion at the 35th Volta ao Alentejo four leader jerseys highlighting the "Yellow" Agricultural Credit which will highlight the daily running with the best time in the race and the final winner. Classification by Points will have a new identity with Sweater Black Kia while the "King of Trepadores" will wear the Sweater Chestnut Delta Cafes. The Youth Prize will be represented in White sweater RTP.
Traditional Alentejo hats handed to the winner of each stage will again pull the podium ceremonies, as well as Chocalheira Art Alcáçovas.
the teams
World Tour: Movistar Team (Spain)
Continental Professionals: Apple / Postobon (Colombia), Israel Cycling Academy (Israel), Gazprom/ Rusvelo (Russia), Caja Rural / Seguros RGA (Spain) e CCC / Sprandi Polkowice (Poland)
Continental: Axeon/ Hagens Berman e Rally Cycling (both two United States gives America), Metec TKH (Holland), Euskadi Basque Country/ Murias (Spain), Team COOP e Team Sparebanjen Sor (both in Norway), An Post/ Chain Reaction (Ireland) and Portuguese, LA Aluminios / Metalusa, Popular radio / Boavista, Loulé / Faro Hospital, Sporting/ Tavira, EFAPEL and W52 / FCPorto.
