Back to Alentejo: “Alentejo” It was presented today. Home Portalegre and end in Évora. Beja receiving end of the 3rd stage.
It was presented this afternoon in Évora, 34th Volta ao Alentejo in Bicycle, proof will be on the road between 16 and 20 March, starting in Portalegre and end in Évora, the magnificent Praça do Giraldo. Organization celebrates this issue the "Heritage".
The race has five steps online, in total 907,8 kilometers and will go 35 of 47 Alentejo municipalities (Alto, Low and Litoral) and it will be contested by 22 teams, 12 Portuguese, Echelon elite and sub 23, and 10 foreign.
The organization, a Podium Events, the same of the Tour of Portugal, intends to honor the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Built Alentejo. There will be arriving in the historic centers of Évora, Beja, Castelo de Vide and Montemor-o-Novo respectively, in Praça do Giraldo, Queen Museum D.Leonor, Castle and Church.
In addition the organization will award the winners of the stages and the Tour, Typical Alentejo hats, Rattles and bunches of paper flowers made by women of Campo Maior, so to celebrate the UNESCO recognition to the Alentejo Sing and Chocalheiras Art and People's Festival of Flowers, the latter in the proposal phase.
In editing 2016 the "Alentejo" are celebrated also 20 years of presence and win the mythical Spanish cyclist, Miguel Indurain, also winner 5 Tour de France editions, between 1191 and 1995, Working in Italy 1992 and 1993, World Champion Time Trial (CRI) in 1995 and gold medal in the CRI, the Olympic Games in Atlanta 1996.
The organization called on the former cyclist navarro to attend and sponsor the race, Indurain but justified it can not accept the "honorable concite" for meeting in Panama in initiatives related to cycling.
Note that the Volta ao Alentejo is the only race in the World, International outlook, no runner could repeat victory 33 issues, 33 different winners.
Joaquim Gomes, organization director, explained that "on the first day is proved that the Alentejo, or part, Also to be quite hilly. Between Portalegre and Castelo de Vide, candidates to victory will have to prove that the good form, otherwise they will be surprised ".
hydrangea Boy, President of CIMAC, company holds the Volta ao Alentejo, He said that "the sports point of view the Volta ao Alentejo is consolidated. There is always room for renewal, thanks to asset diversity of the region ".
Originally scheduled for the last week of March, but, not to coincide with the Easter celebrations, the organization asked the International Cycling Union (UCI) the anticipation of the same, which was accepted.
Stages of the Volta ao Alentejo-16 to 20 March
1Th stage- Portalegre, Castelo de Vide- 158 kms
Match: 12h00. Flights to Crato (MV-km 17-12h35), Alter do Chão (12h53), Monforte (MV-km 57,4-13h36), Portalegre (MV-km 99-14,38), Cabeço do Mouro (PM 2ª cat-km 102,2-14h43), Monte Paleiros (PM 3ª cat-km 107,3-14h50), Marvão (Pm 4ª cat-km 118-15h07) and Lady of Penha (PM 3ª cat-km 138,6-15h37). Arrival: Castelo de Vide- 16h07.
2Th stage- Monforte-Montemor-o-Novo- 206,2 kms
Match: 11h00. Flights to Estremoz (11h43), Fight (MV-km 39,9-12h07), Vila Viçosa (12h20) Redondo (MV-km 64-12h41), Reguengos de Monsaraz (MV-Km 92,8-13h22), Amieira (13h39), Portel (14h09), Viana do Alentejo (14h50), Alcaçovas (15h16) e Escoural (15H42). Arrival: Montemor-o-Novo (PM-4ª cat)- 16H04.
3Th stage- Portel-Beja- 186,6 kms
Match: Portel (11h20). Flights by Vidigueira (MV-km 13-11h48), Cuba (12H03), S.Matias (12h16), Beja / Rotunda of the Air Force (12h30), Neves (12H40), Baleizão (12h55), Serpa (MV-km 72-13h12), Mina de São Domingos (14H03), Mértola (MV-km 125,9-14h29), Hawk Valley Low (15H04) and Gorda (15h35). Arrival: Beja (with the Pax-Julia and Museum)- 15H56.
4Th stage- Aljustrel-Grândola- 184,7 kms
Match: Aljustrel (11h20). Flights to Castro Verde (MV-km 21-12h00), Ourique (12h20), Odemira (MV-km 83,8-13h29), Cercal (14H08), Sines (MV-km 139,6-14h49), Santiago do Cacém (PM 4ª cat-km 158,6-15h16). Arrival: Grândola- 15h53.
5Th stage- Santiago do Cacém-Évora- 172,3 kms
Match: Santiago do Cacém (11h35). Flights by Neighborhood Isaiah / Grândola (MV-km 28,3-12h25), Alcacer do Sal (PM 4ª cat-km 47,6-12h53), Pegões (13h52), Sales News (MV-km 103,2-14h12), Montemor-o-Novo (PM 4ª cat-km 126,1-14h45) and Arraiolos (MV-km 148-15h16). Arrival: Évora (Giraldo Square)- 15h51.
the teams
Portuguese Continental: LA AlumÃnios / Antarte, Popular radio / Boavista, Loulé / Faro Hospital, Sporting/ Tavira, EFAPEL and W52 / FCPorto,
English Sub 23/ teams Club: Moreira Frozen, Anicolor, Goldwin, Maia, Liberty Seguros/ Carglass e Sicasal/ Constantinos.
foreign: USA Cycling, Axeon/ Hagens Berman e Rally Cycling (both two United States gives America), Metec TKH (Holland), Lokosphinx (Russia), Euakadi Basque Conuntry/ Murias (Spain), Team COOP/ Oster HUS e Team Fixit.No (both in Norway), Klein Constantia / Czech Republic) e Bliz / Merida (Sweden).
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
