Raquel Queirós (Velo Performance/JS Campinense) won on sunday, 5 september, in Lisbon, European Capital of Sport 2021, the first edition of the Volta a Portugal Feminina Cofidis. The last stage, 94.7 kilometers between Caldas da Rainha and the capital, was won by Lucy Lee (Team LDN/Brother UK).
The tirade was attacked very early, due, essentially, to the ambition of the British Team LDN/Brother UK to recover the Yellow Jersey Lisbon European Capital of Sport, which they lost the day before to Raquel Queirós.
The Portuguese runner, supported by the mixed team formed by Clube BTT de Matosinhos and by Velo Perfomance/JS Campinense resisted the attacks, always marking the wheel of Danielle Shrosbree.
The attacks reduced the peloton, but the best ones always remained together, which allowed a dispute to the sprint, in the riverside area of Lisbon. The UK team failed to break through the general standings, but won one more stage. The interpreter of success today was Lucy Lee, who crossed ahead of the pack, after 2h55m54s of race. Lucia García and Laura Rodríguez, both from the Catalonia team, occupied the immediate positions.
“We had a bit of a frustrating week as a team due to the misfortunes that hurt Danelle Shrosbree. Today we tried to get the yellow jersey back, but it wasn’t possible. Personally, I’m very happy with the stage win. This result is a prize for the team and especially for Danielle, it is to her that I dedicate this result. The Women’s Tour was wonderful, a very well organized race, with very beautiful landscapes. I want to come back in the future”, guaranteed Lucy Lee.
Vera Vilaça (Extremesul/Hotel Alísios/Cenmais), fifth in Lisbon, received the Jogos Santa Casa Award for the best Portuguese in the stage.
Raquel Queirós was the seventh to cross the finish line, with the same time as the winner, and made history. She is the winner of the first Women’s Tour of Portugal Cofidis. She finished the four stages with 7:28:52s, 35 seconds less than junior Sofia Gomes (Vesam / Blok-Vilanonvense Cycling Girls) and 48 seconds less than Catalan Iris Gómez, second and third, respectively.
“I feel extremely proud. I never imagined I could win this race. I came here not knowing what my body could give, but obviously I am very, very, very happy to take the yellow shirt home. Today’s stage was very tough, but I had the help of my colleague Mariana [Lebanon] and other Portuguese runners, who joined together to guarantee a national victory. I have to thank all the girls who helped me win this race”, recognizes Raquel Queirós.
Danielle Shrosbree won the Cofidis Red Jersey, from the points, and the Polisport Blue Jersey, from the mountain. Sofia Gomes won the IPDJ White Jersey, symbol of the best junior in competition. In this particular classification she was 40 seconds faster than Beatriz Pereira (Bairrada) and 1m14s better than Laura Ruiz (Rio Miera Meruelo / Cantabria Deporte). Team LDN/Brother UK collectively asserted themselves.
“Before the start of the Tour, I wasn’t expecting to be second overall. I came just to give my best and to try to understand the level of competition. In the first stage everything was a surprise for me, especially noticing that I managed to be in the top three juniors. The second day was an eye-opener for me, when I was at the top of the youth team, because I was thinking that I could really take the shirt home. When I managed to take second place in the time trial, I was impressed and realized that today I would have to give everything”, describes Sofia Gomes, who, next week, will compete in the European Championship. “It will be the highest level competition I’ve ever attended. I’m going with everything so that it goes well”, anticipates the best young woman from Volta a Portugal Feminina Cofidis.
Throughout the Tour, the Federation honored different generations of cyclists. Today it was Maria Martins’ turn. The president of the Olympic Committee of Portugal, José Manuel Constantino, had to welcome her, or was it not herself, like Raquel Queirós, an Olympic athlete.
