I know that you are focused in TOC, but here in “little” Algarve will begin the stage race in Portugal with better startlist of the season, no doubt about that. But before i talk about the race, i want to talk first, something about how things are here.

I originally thought about doing a post on the Volta ao Algarve and Portuguese teams for 2009, but then began to write and noticed it was much text to read below, sorry....

 This season we have one less professional team here, and not one Professional Continental team. Benfica\Lagos Sport and LA MSS ended, the first because, Benfica did not want to continue the sponsorship and Lagos Sport alone could not sustain the cycling team.. About LA MSS you know the story, many riders are suspended as the team, and they had no choice than stop.

With this two losses the teams that are in active this season are stronger because some of riders of LA MSS and Benfica move to others.

Liberty Seguros:

If last year was already a strong team (the 2nd best Continental Team in ranking's CQ), this year is better. Despite the loose of Koldo Gil and Urtasun (didn’t did much here), the mainly entry of Ruben Plaza and José Mendes (both ex-Benfica), will give more solutions to Américo Silva (DS). I'm curious to see the first professional year of  Ricardo Vilela , another promise of portuguese cycling. So, if Américo this year can’t win Tour of Portugal with this quality in his squad, he will never win...

Palmeiras Resort Tavira.

Almost the same last year, but the entry of Candido Barbosa (Ex-Benfica) will give more media's attention for the Tavira. In team apresentation they call himself, the best team that Tavira had in his history, and this team are knowed as the older professional team cycling in Europe.

Barbosa is currently the most recognized portuguese cyclist, and for the Tour of Portugal is the right guy to call the media with “lot of smiles”. In addition, and despite a last season with many injuries, he could take some stage's wins and will be a good suport for David Blanco (winner of TdP 2008), maybe Barbosa may repeat the top10 of last year.

Liberty and Tavira are the two best teams here. The others four are: Barbot-Siper, almost the same last year but loose Francisco Pacheco for Murcia and he was the best sprinter here (5 wins last year, two in TdP).

Centro de Ciclismo de Loulé-Louletano-AquaShow

The team that improved most is CC Loule, last year was the weakest but now have Eladio Jimenez (ex-Fercase), João Cabreira (ex-LA MSS and the national champion) and some more new reinforcements. I think this team could be the surprise of the year, João Cabreira was essential in the victory of Tondo in TdP 07 and he is the best portuguese climber, this moment is perfect for he assume the leadership and try to win the TdP. After Nuno Ribeiro win’s in 2003, will be this year that we have a portuguese winning the Tour of Portugal again? Maybe is too soon, but we need a new national heroe, quickly!!

Fercase Rota dos Moveis.

Mancebo and Jose Eladio Jimenez left, but Constantino Zaballa(ex- LA MSS) and Hugo Sabido (ex. Barloworld) entered. In general i think is better because Jimenez and even Mancebo had a poor last year. Sabido and mainly Zaballa could have some victories in a near future, but for TdP i don’t expect much. Zaballa is good classic guy and a good for short stage races, the same about Hugo Sabido, but none have a powerfull ITT, or are climbers for a stage that finish in“Torre”. (mythical mountain in TdP)

Madeinox-Boavista

A few days ago was the team apresentation, and the surprise was they assume that this year the mainly objective is win TdP and have a team capable of doing that!! I have some serious doubts...

They had strong reinforcements with Daniel Petrov (ex-Benfica and a good climber), Santi Perez from CCL and João Benta (neo-pro and the winner of TdP of the future 2008), but the lider of his team  is Tiago Machado (24 years old). Who followed TdP last year know him, because he took the young jersey from Daniel Martin in last stage, the final ITT.

Early realized that Tiago Machado is a future Tdp winner (if not choose the same path the Sergio Paulinho ), and this team since last year is being prepared for his leadership. He had last year his first major victory (GP Troféu Joaquím Agostinho 2.2) and was second in crono and road race of our national championship. I remember in the prologue of TdP last year, in the teams apresentation, Marco Chagas (winner of four TdP in 80’s and currently the “portuguese Liggett”) asked Tiago if he are there to win TdP 08, and he says: “My objective is finish in top 10 and win the young jersey, winning is very dificult for who never placed in top10”. Machado finish 9th with the young jersey.

He have a very good ITT, maybe not so good than Guerra or Blanco but he can get there, however in a climb like “Torre” i’m serious doubts if he can follow the favorites. Last year in that stage he loose almost 5min for Blanco!! I think is too early for he win TdP, but we will see what he can does this season... if he have a good day in “Torre”, he can win TdP.

I think Machado have one more or two year to win TdP, after that, he maybe take the same path of Jose Azevedo and Sergio Paulinho who left Portugal without winning our most prestigious race.

In general i think the quality of Portuguese peloton is good like last year. But this year is more balanced, every teams have riders that can win various races, breaking the hegemony of two, three teams of last year.

What has worsened again, and each time it has been worse is the lack of employment, the global crisis affect Portugal too,and cycling of course. Some riders like Eladio Jimenez and Joao Cabreira was already talk conversation with a new team Cartaxo, and only in January that team say that had no money to have a professional team, and now, Cartaxo have only a sub23 team. Many sub23 teams have riders more older who cannot rider like Pena Iza and others portuguese riders, in the hope of the middle of the season being employed.

There is the main professional races in Portugal, for this season:

18.02.2009 22.02.2009 Volta ao Algarve POR 2.1

01.04.2009  05.04.2009  Volta ao Alentejo em Bicicleta  POR  2.1

14.05.2009  17.05.2009  GP Internacional Paredes Rota dos Móveis  POR  2.2 

11.06.2009  14.06.2009  GP Internacional CTT Correios de Portugal  POR  2.1

08.07.2009  12.07.2009  GP Internacional Torres Vedras - Joaquim Agostinho  POR  2.2

05.08.2009  16.08.2009  Volta a Portugal em Bicicleta - EDP  POR  2.HC

In next days i will do a preview for Volta ao Algarve, hope you enjoy...