Portuguese cyclist João Matias (Tavfer-Ovos Matinados-Mortágua) climbs the Yellow Tower today, with the highest point in mainland Portugal being the first major challenge for the candidates for victory in the Volta a Portugal.
The start of the fifth stage is at 12:00, with the peloton of the 84th edition of the ‘queen’ race of the national calendar leaving Mação for the 184.3 kilometers of the Torre link.
After passing the milestones of Sardoal (20.7) and Oleiros (85.9), the riders encounter the first mountain of the day, a fourth category mountain at Portela, at kilometer 97.1.
Soon after, they pass the third category in Orvalho (109.1), the last ‘difficulty’ before the approach to the Tower, which they start climbing 100 meters after the Covilhã flyover (164.1).
The finish line, coinciding with a special category mountain prize, will be reached after 20.1 kilometers of ascent, with the first runner at the highest point in mainland Portugal (1,993 meters) expected at around 17:17.
João Matias is just two seconds ahead of compatriot Rafael Reis (Glassdrive-Q8-Anicolor) and six ahead of German Lukas Meiler (Voralberg), with defending champion Mauricio Moreira (Glassdrive-Q8-Anicolor) fifth at seven.