Volta a Portugal UCI 2.1: Team Vorarlberg pro Colin Stüssi with every chance of an overall podium in the final time trial after an “ultra-tough” queen stage!

What an incredibly tough fight on the queen stage of the Volta a Portugal! Colin Stüssi with all podium chances before the final time trial!

It was the expected difficult day on the penultimate stage from Maia over 170 kilometers up the Senhora da Graca including almost 4000 meters of altitude. Right at the start, a very large, dangerous group with numerous top riders broke away. The “Captain de la Route” from Team Vorarlberg, Lukas Meiler, was there to keep watch!

Stüssi’s attack is countered

On the second-to-last climb, the Team Vorarlberg pro attacks from the peloton, which is still five minutes behind. Eulalio Afonso counters. The yellow jersey is able to break away from Stüssi with a group. Lukas Meiler joins his leader. A chase race to the foot of the final climb. Stüssi and Meiler close the gap of one minute.

Second by second …

On the final climb, it becomes clear that the overall lead will be turned completely upside down. Afonso (Team ABTF), the overall leader until then, is distanced by Stüssi. In front of thousands of spectators, the Swiss rider starts an incredible chase to catch up and finishes 13th on the stage. The gap to stage winner Abner Gonzalez (PUR / Efapel) is 3min 21sec. Russian Artem Nych (Sabgal-Anicolor) finishes second and is now leader of the stage race.

“We stayed cool for a long time today. However, the overall leader’s team made a classic gamble, as they waited too long to take up the chase. As a result, the classification has now been completely turned upside down. Today Colin put in a sensational performance in the final and reduced the gap single-handedly. Lukas Meiler was able to support him for a long time, as was everyone else up to the long climbs. Nevertheless, the injured Jannis Peter was missing for the final. We went to Portugal with the aim of delivering the best possible performance. Everyone did that with flying colors. No matter what happened tomorrow – a chapeau to Colin and the whole Team Vorarlberg squad for this part of team history !” says Thomas Kofler – Manager Team Vorarlberg

Pure excitement before the time trial!

In the overall standings, Colin Stüssi is now in fourth place, 53 seconds behind Artem Nych. Second Leaca Goncalo (POR / Credibom) +37 seconds. Third Abner Gonzalez with 49 seconds. (Note: the times are not yet 100% confirmed). Thus, Stüssi is only a few seconds short of an overall podium in tomorrow’s final time trial over 26 kilometers in Viseu. ALL THE BEST COLIN!

Stüssi continues to lead the overall combined ranking!

Result https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/volta-a-portugal/2024/stage-11

Profile stage https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/volta-a-portugal/2024/stage-11/info/profiles

Stage plan (total length 1,540 KM / 22,000 vertical meters)

24.07. Prologue Agueda – Agueda 5.6 KM

25.07. Stage 1 Anadia – Miranda do Corvo 158.2 KM / 2838 HM

26.07. Stage 2 Santarem – Lisbon 164.5 KM / 1132 m elevation gain

27.07. Stage 3 Crato – Covilha (Torre) 161.2 KM / 3225 m elevation gain

28.07. Stage 4 Sabugal – Guarda 164.5 KM / 3050 HM

29.07. Rest day

30.07. Etappe 5 Penedono – Braganca 176,8 KM / 3299 HM

31.07. Stage 6 Braganca – Boticas 169.1 KM / 2671 HM

01.08. Stage 7 Felgueiras – Paredes 160.4 KM / 2416 HM

02.08. Stage 8 Viano do Castelo – Fafe 182.4 KM / 2404 m elevation gain

03.08. Etappe 9 Maia – Senhora de Graca / Mondim de Basto 170,8 KM / 3820 HM

04.08. Stage 10 Time trial Viseu – Viseu 26.6 KM / 418 HM

Line-up Team Vorarlberg: Colin Stüssi, Jannis Peter, Lukas Meiler, Felix Stehli, Lukas Rüegg, Alexander Konychev, Pirmin Benz;

Press Service Team Vorarlberg

www.team-vorarlberg.at

office@proevent-cycling.at