UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider Rui Oliveira won stage 10 of the Volta a Portugal from Maia to Porto on August 16 in a time of three hours six minutes and 35 seconds. Daniel Cavia finished second with Francisco Campos placing third as the Portuguese rider timed his sprint to perfection on the cobbled uphill finish. Oliveira also secured the points classification during the 11-stage race according to the team’s report. The result marked his first professional win on the road after several close calls earlier in the event.
Oliveira dedicated the victory to the family of Finlay Tarling who died after a crash on stage eight. “First I just want to give my condolences to Fin’s family his brother his friends his team everyone” Oliveira said. “It has been a rough couple of days I cannot imagine what they are suffering. I said yesterday that I wanted to win first of all for Fin’s family and his teammates. This one is for them. I am so so happy to win in my home. I live here I am from Porto. I passed near my home four times it gave me extra motivation and this one is for Fin’s family. They are really in my heart and for all my family who have supported me throughout these days.”
The home rider had demonstrated consistent form throughout the race finishing second in the prologue and on stage six while briefly taking the overall lead after the first road stage. According to team figures the event represented UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s debut at the Volta a Portugal. His motivation increased as the final stage looped close to his residence on four occasions.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG achieved a total of four stage victories across the race. Julius Johansen won both the prologue and a time trial stage while Adrià Pericas claimed honours on a mountain stage. Pericas finished fifth in the general classification and collected the best young rider jersey team data shows.
Alexis Guerin captured the overall crown with a cumulative time of 30 hours 21 minutes and seven seconds. Artem Nych ended second at one minute two seconds adrift and Pedro Silva placed third four minutes 37 seconds behind. The standings reflected a competitive battle across varied terrain during the two-week event.
Procycling Stats records confirm this was the 87th edition of the Volta a Portugal a prominent UCI 2.1-ranked race on the national calendar. The competition drew a mix of local and international squads with the fatal incident involving Tarling from another team casting a shadow over proceedings. Oliveira’s success in his home city provided an emotional end to the edition for Portuguese participants.
