Cian Keogh looking focused during his TT effort to open the 11-stage at Volta a Portugal em Bicicleta (Photo: Podium Events-Matias Novo Fotografias)
Irish riders Conn McDunphy and Cian Keogh, both of UCI Continental team Skyline, have gotten their campaigns underway at the 11-stage Volta a Portugal em Bicicleta (2.1).
They tackled the 3.4km TT in Maia, won by Rafael Reis (Anicolor-Tien 21), the former Portuguese national TT champion. He rounded the short prologue course in a time of 3:51, in 52.987kmph.
He claimed victory by three seconds from Iúri Leitão (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), with Jens Verbrugghe (Israel Premier Tech Academy) 3rd at four seconds.
McDunphy, the former elite Irish TT champion, placed 94th at 35 seconds, with Keogh placing 97th at 36 seconds.
The race continues tomorrow, Thursday, with the first road stage taking the riders 162km from Viana do Castelo to Braga, with 2,300m of elevation again.