Rui Costa became national long-distance champion for the third time

Veteran Rui Costa (EF Education-EasyPost) became Portuguese long-distance champion for the third time this Sunday, becoming the first cyclist to cross the finish line in Castelo de Santa Maria da Feira.

At the age of 37, Poverio captured his third national long-distance title, following titles won in 2015 and 2020, with victory over a 164.1-kilometre course starting and finishing in Santa Maria da Feira on Rui Oliveira (UAE Emirates) , second under two seconds, and Luis Gomez (Gi Group Holding-Simoldes-UDO), third under 11 – both exactly repeated last year’s podium position.

Having seen a fall at the Volta circuit in the Algarve that “ruined” half his season, Rui Costa showed today that he is back at his best level, adding the away title, won in 03:49.01 hours, to bronze in the time trial in Friday.

The race was 164.1 kilometers long, but it began to take shape very early: it was at the 17th kilometer that defending champion Ivo Oliveira (UAE) took the lead in an attack that “seemed” decisive.

Thus, the runner-up in the national time trial will eventually be joined by his twin Rui, former teammate Rui Costa, Luis Gomes, Joao Matias (Tawfer-Ovos Matinados-Mortagua), Joaquim Silva and Thiago Antunes (Efapel), Afonso Silva and Diogo Barbosa (AP Hotels & Resorts-Tavira-Farense).

In the peloton, national chrono champion Antonio Morgado (UAE) was delayed for two bike changes, while the teams ABTF-Feirense, Rádio Popular-Paredes-Boavista and Sabgal-Anicolor, who had no representatives in the escape, were still trying to make a “bridge” ” to the race leader, but to no avail.

Despite the difference of less than a minute over tens of kilometers, the pursuers failed to catch up with the nine in front, who were discussing the title among themselves.

The passage of kilometers made a natural selection: Ivo Oliveira, who less than a month ago broke two fingers on one hand, once again turned out to be decisive: it was from him that the accelerations came, choosing the racing front, limiting him. himself, his brother Rui Costa, Afonso Silva and Luis Gomez.

At the start of the last of six laps, Ivo fell behind, leaving the stage to the remaining four runners, who bailed out for the final 700m cobbled climb towards Castelo da Feira.

Calculator Rui Costa, the 2013 world long-distance champion, was waiting for the right moment to launch the attack that would bring him a third national long-distance title – he has two more time trials (2010 and 2013).