Hei guys, there was a great weekend for portuguese cycling, i can’t remember when  a portuguese won a race outside of our country. Coincidence or not, in this day (10 May) of 1984, died our greatest cyclist Joaquim Agostinho, after a fall in a stage of Volta ao Algarve.

This isn’t his first victory, but one of the most important for him, mainly because it's his first in Caisse d’Epargne. There are many riders that lead all their careers to achieve a victory like this, Costa in his first oportunity, didn’t miss. How many guys won in first season? (i know isn’t his first but i think it's almost as if it were.). So, what i want to talk about here is what influence this sucess will have on a young guy like him?

Personal, he will be more motivated than ever, and he knows now that when is in good shape he is capable to race at front in pro level. How many young talents that came in pro level and and go unnoticed? Another thing an more important i think, is his status now on Caisse d’Epargne. I know that CGE is a big team and Costa have a long way to claim leadership (if some day it will), but in his first moment that his teammates worked for him, he won. This his a bust of confidence not for him, but for his teammates too, who now recognized him like a rider who can trust. I doubt in current year that Caisse will name Rui Costa their leader for any race, but in the next opportunity that he has,teammates and DS should help him again with more confidence so he can get another victory.

The fans here in Portugal are increasingly confident that this will be our next star, maybe the next Azevedo or even Agostinho, but yeah, is to early to guess. Looking at their current skills, i think he is a rider for classics, and how is good in ITT, should be good in a week stage race too. Never seem him in a big mountain stage, but i think he could has difficulties there, i presume that he is more a rider like Lovkvist or Gendermman. One of his dreams is win Tour de France, but until he do a big Tour, we can’t say if he is capable or not, most likely to see this, is await to next season.

He began this season in T-A, Milan San Remo and in April he did almost every Pro Tour Classics (missed LBL), and heii!!, a 58th in P-R for a first try, i think was pretty good?! And i think he was the first portuguese to finish that race!!  

Looking for CGE’s calendar in next months, i presume his next race should be Route du Sud (doubt that he will do Catalunha? if he goes should be a bonus for his victory!!), During the Tour he will come to Spain for some more races.

For the first time this season i went to site of Caisse d'Epargne, and is new and much more cool than 2008. I found this video with Eusebio Unzue talking about his young pupile:

Rui Costa par Eusebio Unzue
by Equipe-Cycliste-GCE

For who missed the queen stage and decisive of 4th Days of Dunkerque, here is the last 4km.Was quite exciting!!

 His home page.

In the final today's interview, was asked him about if he thinks he will win the TdF someday, the young talent responded " I want think step by step, one at a time". Keep this thinking, thanks GPE, congrats Rui Costa. Chapeau!!