In 2022 Orluis Aular won the Volta do Alentejo after winning the Clássica da Arrábida, last Sunday he repeated the victory in the race that ended in Palmela and from tomorrow he will appear in the match in Beja as the main candidate to repeat the victory of the “Alentejana”.
The victory of the Venezuelan rider of the Spanish team Caja Rural/Seguros RGA equals the two triumphs of his compatriot Carlos Barbero, in 2014 and 2017, the only one with two wins, but would be the first runner to win the race twice in a row.
the celebration of 40 years of Volta ao Alentejo is marked by the lack of Rádio Popular/ Paredes/ Boavista, that had self-suspended, but which has since been suspended by 30 days by the Disciplinary Committee of the International Cycling Union (UCI).
Tomorrow in Beja, will line up at the start of the race, that will be on the road between 22 and 26 March, 125 Runners representing 18 teams, eleven Portuguese and seven foreign, comprising a total of 834 kilometers in five straight stages.
This year the organization does not carry out the traditional time trial passing through Alto da Senhora da Penha, Castelo de Vide, but performs a very tough stage in the Serra de São Mamede, with five mountain counts, we last 60 kilometers of the stretch that ends in the so-called “Sintra do Alentejo”.
Beyond Orluis Aular, as candidates for victory are Maurício Moreira and Luís Mendonça, ambos da Glassdrive/Q8/Anicolor, who have already won the Volta ao Alentejo, António Carvalho (ABTF Concrete/Feirense) Delio Fernandez (AP Hotels and Resorts/Tavira/Farense), joaquim silva (MV-Km 130,6-14h51), without forgetting outsider João Matias (Tavfer/Ovos Matinado/Mortagua).
As for runners from Alentejo, José Bicho is only present (AP Hotels and Resorts/Tavira/Farense), natural de Safara, municipality of Moura, who makes his debut in racing and also as a professional in stage racing.
Leaving Beja in the beautiful Parque da Cidade, Commander Rui Nabeiro will be remembered, boss Delta Cafes, race sponsor, and Rui Duro, ex-cyclist, who died recently.
the teams
Continental Professionals (3): Caja Rural / Seguros RGA, Kern Pharma e Burgos/BH Team (all from spain)
Continental (12): MV-Km 130,6-14h51, MV-Km 130,6-14h51, MV-Km 130,6-14h51, Credibom/ LA Alimínios/ MarcosCar, Tavfer/ Matinated Eggs/ Mortagua, Kelly/ Simoldes/ Oliveirense, MV-Km 130,6-14h51, AP Hotels and Resorts/ Tavira/ SCFarense, MV-Km 130,6-14h51, Bike Aid (Germany), MV-Km 130,6-14h51 (Spain), Trinity Racing (Great Britain) MV-Km 130,6-14h51 (Angola)
MV-Km 130,6-14h51 (3): Fonte Nova/Felgueiras, JV Profiles/ Windmob and Santa Maria da Feira/ Segmento d’Época/ Reol
1Th stage (22/03)- Beja (11h30) – Ourique (15h47)- 168,8 kms
Departure from City Park (Beja) and passages through Serpa (The president of the Portuguese Cycling Federation), Vila Nova de São Bento (12h41), Mina de São Domingos (13h39), Mértola (MV-km 99,1-14h05), Mértola (PM 4ªcat-km 102,2-14h09), Sao Joao dos Caldeireiros (14h23), Almodovar (MV-km 141,2-15h06) and Aldeia dos Fernandes (15H28).
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
