Castro Verde will be tomorrow at 11.15 hours the stage for the departure of the 1st stage of the 41st Volta ao Alentejo Crédito Agrícola, with the “Capital of Campo Branco” being the nineteenth location that hosts the start of the race. The end of the stage will take place at Largo de Santo Amaro, having the Keep, the Beja Castle, as “chief guardian”.
The “Alentejana” over the five stages will cover 852,7 kilometers, 13 mountain prizes and 15 flying goals. It should be noted that at each arrival there will be 10, 6 and 4 bonus seconds and in each of the flying targets 3, 2 and 1 seconds, which have a high influence on the classification outcome.
The 125 Runners confirmed today by sports directors at the competition's preparatory meeting will cover 168 kilometers this Wednesday, from Castro Verde to the city of Beja, where in Largo de Santo Amaro, having the Keep, the Beja Castle, as “chief guardian”, The first stage winner of this year’s edition of “Alentejana” will be crowned.
In this stage, the passages through Almodôvar stand out, cycling land, Mértola, the ancient mining town of Mina de São Domingos, Gypsy Cross, in the so-called Serra de Serpa, where good cheese is made in the region.
After passing through Serpa, the caravan will cross the historic village of Baleizão, already in Beja county, with a “visit” to the Catarina Eufémia Monument, when they are fulfilled 70 years from the date of his death.
Largo do Santo Amaro hosts for the second time a finisher from the Volta ao Alentejo, having in the year of 2005, Pedro Soeiro (Carvalhelhos/Boavista) I win the stage and wear the first yellow jersey of this edition.
Joaquim Gomes, organization director, talked about this year's edition: “Keeping the four Alentejo sub-regions in the race has been the biggest goal. Fortunately, from Baixo to Alto Alentejo, from the Coast to Central Alentejo, the receptivity of the mayors has allowed us to present a balanced route that in its initial phase will allow sprinters to stand out more, only thwarted by the demanding 3rd stage in which the crossing of the Serra de S. Mamede before the difficult final circuit in Castelo de Vide will naturally give the Trepadores an advantage. It will be in this context that bonuses could alter the attribution of favoritism to runners with certain characteristics and could drag the discussion of victory to Évora.”.
To beyond the Sweater Yellow Agricultural Credit (Individual General Classification by Times) are under discussion Green Delta Brown Camisole (Points Classification), a Blue Morning Mail Sweater (Mountain Classification) e a Alentejo Tourism White T-shirt (Youth Classification).
National/Continental Teams: सब्गाल / Anicolor (BY), MV-Km 130,6-14h51 (BY), ABTF Betão-Feirense (BY), Tavfer-Matinado Eggs-Mortagua (BY), Kelly Simoldes UDO (BY), Credibom/LA Aluminios/Marcos Car (BY), AP Hotels & Resorts/Tavira/SC Farense (BY), Aviludo-Louletano-Loulé Municipality (BY) and Popular Radio – Paredes- Boavista (BY).
National/Club Teams: Óbidos Cycling Team (BY), CCL / Matdiver / Anastácio Mendes & Mendes (BY) and Windmob Ports (BY).
Foreign Teams: Caja Rural - Seguros RGA (ESP), Project Echelon Racing (USA), Team Storck – Metropol Cycling (GIVING), Illes Balears Arabay Cycling (ESP), Lubelskie Pearl of Poland (POL) e Swiss Cycling National Team (SUI).
1Th Stage: Castro Verde (11h15)-Beja (15h35)-168 kms
Parish of Baleizão on the celebration of “Alentejo”
Baleizão receives next Tuesday, 20 March, the passage of the 1st stage of the 41st Volta ao Alentejo/ Crédito Agrícola, on a connection between Castro Verde and Beja.
This is a historic day for the parish as it is the first time that Alentejana will cross the village , in the year in which the 50 of 25 April and the 70 years since the death of Catarina Eufémia.
For the Baleizão Parish Council, it is a pride to be present at the race and we will offer a basket that promotes the parish with bread, wine, mel, olive oil and a voucher at Monte do Pantaleão, destined for the best Portuguese runner.
Next to the Catarina Eufémia Monument, the Parish Council will place a banner saluting the Alentejana Caravan, also developing several activities for the children of E.B1/J.I that will take place at Parque Álvaro Cunhal and so to speak PRESENT at the biggest sporting event in Alentejo.
The race organized by Podium Events, what's in Joaquim Gomes, the organization's director, come along the EN260 towards Serpa/Beja, will enter Baleizão via Rua José Vargas, around 3:07 p.m., then continue along Largo (Café Central), Ladeira Street, Álvaro Cunhal Park, left onto Rua Francisco Miguel Duarte right onto EM 1032, passing by the Catarina Eufémia Monument, search 3:10 p.m, then turn left onto Estrada das Apolinárias at the intersection of Herdade Barbas de Lebre.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
