Matias outsprints McGill on stage 4 of the Volta a Portugal
Sprinter takes over green jersey lead as Moreira continues in yellow into Tuesday's rest day
Two days after scoring his first career victory at the Volta a Portugal in Castelo Branco, João Matias took another on stage 4 following a stellar lead out in Viseu from his Tavfer-Mortágua-Ovos Matinados team.
The 31-year-old had to wait through four editions of the race before opening his account at the race on Saturday but will now take over the green points jersey from Scott McGill (Wildlife Generation), who finished second.
With 104 points apiece, the pair lie level at the top of the standings, though Matias edges into the jersey ahead of Tuesday's rest day thanks to his two stage wins.
Caja Rural-Seguros RGA stagiaire Andoni López de Abetxuko took third place in the final sprint, his effort fading as McGill, who started his sprint much further back, charged through to second place.
The fourth stage was a tough day out despite being one for the sprinters as the peloton raced across the hot interior of Portugal from Guarda. An up-and-down parcours brought three mid-stage climbs, including the third-category Broca (4.4km at 4.8%) for the breakaway to fight over.
It was a sizeable group out front, with prologue winner Rafael Reis (Glassdrive-Q8-Anicolor) in the break along with Robin Carpenter (Human Powered Health), Joaquim Silva (Efapel), Bruno Silva (Tavfer-Mortágua-Ovos Matinados), Afonso Silva (Kelly-Simoldes-UDO), Alvaro Trueba (Atum General-Tavira-Maria Nova Hotel), Joseba López (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Óscar Pelegrí (Burgos-BH), José Mendes (Aviludo-Louletano-Loulé Concelho) and Peio Goikoetxea (Euskaltel-Euskadi).
The 10 men would at one point build a gap of over six minutes, though back in the peloton Wildlife Generation had ambitions for another stage for McGill following his win in Elvas. The American took the lead on the pacemaking and the time gap ebbed away as the kilometres ticked down.
At 50km to go it was down to three minutes and it would hit the one-minute mark at 15km from the line, by which point Mendes, Pelegrí and Goikoetxea had given up the ghost out front. An attack from the peloton Mikel Mujika (BAI-Sicasal-Petro de Luanda) soon afterwards only hastened the chase, and, despite a last-gasp effort from Carpenter, the break was caught 3km from the line.
On the fast run to the finish in Viseu it was Tavfer who took to the front to set up the sprint for Matias. A late effort from Aviludo-Louletano-Loulé Concelho couldn't disrupt the dash for the finish, with Matias bursting free to take a clear stage victory.
Away from Matias vs McGill and the green jersey battle, the remainder of the major standings remained the same. Overall favourite Mauricio Moreira (Glassdrive-Q8-Anicolor) remains in the yellow jersey of the race lead following his triumph on Torre, with third-placed Luís Fernandes (Rádio Popular-Paredes-Boavista) the only non Glassdrive man within two minutes of the lead.
Moreira also holds the mountain classification lead, while Caja Rural youngster Jokin Murguialday leads the best young rider classification in ninth overall.
Results powered by FirstCycling
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, joining in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Before joining the team, they had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly and Rouleur.
Dani has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France, Road World Championships, and the spring Classics. They have interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Mathieu van der Poel, Demi Vollering, and Remco Evenepoel. Their favourite races are the Giro d'Italia, Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix.
Season highlights from the 2024 season include reporting from Paris-Roubaix – 'Unless I'm in an ambulance, I'm finishing this race' – Cyrus Monk, the last man home at Paris-Roubaix – and the Tour de France – 'Disbelief', gratitude, and family – Mark Cavendish celebrates a record-breaking Tour de France sprint win.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
2025 Tour of the Alps includes 14,700m of climbing in just 739km and five days of racing
Route revealed in front of Christian Prudhomme and UCI President David Lappartient -
The 2025 UCI calendar could have a major gap as two February races are in doubt
Tour Colombia facing budget hurdles, could face cancellation, adding to potential absence of Volta a Valenciana -
Maxim Van Gils' contract battle with Lotto Dstny pushes pro cycling towards a football-style transfer market system
'Soon, a contract will no longer mean anything' team managers tells RTBF -
American Criterium Cup juggles eight-race US calendar for fourth edition in 2025
Racing begins June 6 at Saint Francis Tulsa Tough, with remaining schedule zig-zagging across central US