Tour of Maputo - Stage 1 - Road race 66km

Photo by Kinha - from left - Betinho (representing Zeca 2nd), Miguel 1st, Mario 3rd & Danilo presenting prizes

The first day of the Tour of Maputo was characterised by a lot of wind, lots of attacks, and thankfully all the cyclists completing the race. We had just one flat tyre, but Lars was lucky that the support vehicle was behind the peloton in that exact instant, and he was able to re-join. And with just one race support vehicle (supplied by Nova Vida/ Werner) and one time-keeper (Malaia) we were able give support to all the cyclists, keep score at the various KOM points, and get everyone safe and sound to the finish line.
The race was won by Miguel Duarte, in a time of 2 hrs 7 minutes and 54 seconds, followed a few seconds later by Alvaro "Zeca" da Cunha and finally Mario Traversi (yours truly) with the majority of the peloton a few seconds behind. The race started fairly sedated, with a neutralized section until the end of the traffic bumps, after which Miguel and Betinho launched into a sprint that stretched out the peloton until the start of the climb, where the pace cooled down until almost to the top when Zeca launched into an attack, closely followed by Miguel, who eventually took the KOM points. The rest of the peloton reached the top in one's and two's and started coagulating back into a bunch on the way down, and by the time the Goba turn-off was reached about half had rejoined. On the Goba road section there were a few attempts at escape, but the strong wind nullified any attempts, and the group stayed together, later joined by Joao, Chico and Betinho, who worked well together. The riders took turns on the front, with Miguel, Zeca, Patrick and Mathieu contributing the most.
At the Goba town turn-off Kinha launched a strong attack, again followed by Patrick and Mathieu the peleton was strung out but still intact. Now with the wind in the peloton's favour, the attacks came thick and fast, with João and Grichone also adding to the fray. Zeca meanwhile hung back and watched the action. After the railway crossing Grichone put in another strong attack, but then Kinha set a very high tempo that stretched out the peloton once again, and delivered Miguel to the foot of the climb, where he was shadowed closely by Mathieu and Mario, Patrick and Zeca. Miguel manages to open a gap, while Mathieu and Mario work to catch him, but then sudden;y Zeca comes thundering past and overtakes them. The finish line is fast approaching, and the 6km from the end of the climb come quickly, with Miguel crossing, closely followed by the rest of the peloton. The big victory though was Danilo Correia's participation and completion of the race, as was the fact that Lars Noren finished 6th and is 62 years old! And finally the fact that ALL the starters finished the race, which due to the wind was quite difficult.


O primeiro dia do Tour de Maputo caraterizou-se por muito vento, muitos ataques, e felizmente todos os ciclistas que començaram a prova acabaram. Tivemos um furo apenas, do Lars, mas sorte que o carro de apoio estava mesmo ao lado do pelotao quando aconteceu. Mesmo com um carro (Nova Vida, do Werner) e so e um marcador dos tempos (Malaia) conseguimos dar apoio a todos, marcar os pontos, e chegarem todos sá e salvos na meta.
A corrida foi ganha pelo Miguel Duarte, em 2:07:54, seguido a poucos segundos pelo Alvaro "Zeca" Da Cunha e enfin o "chato Italiano que não larga o osso" Mário Traversi. Alguns metros atraz, com a maior parte do pelotao segiundo todos divididos por meros segundos. A corrida arrancou calmamente até o fim das lombas, onde o Miguel e Betinho lançaram um sprint que esticou o pelotao, até o començo da subida, onde o ritmo abrandou até quase o top da montanha onde Zeca lançou um ataque, seguido por Miguel. O resto do pelotao chegou aos rastos devido ao forte rimto, mas na descida començaram a recomporse num pelotao, e 7 ciclistas conseguiram juntarse antes da ponte e da viragem para Goba. No troço de Goba houve umas tentativas frustradas de fuga, mas com o forte vento contra todos ficaram anulados, e o pelotao mantive um passo alegre mas nao muito acelerado, com turnos a frente de Miguel, Alvaro, Patrick e Mathieu. Na viragem para Goba o Kinha lançou um ritmo forte, e segido por Patrick e Mathieu, esticaram o pelotao. Pouco antes da viragem o Mario deu uns sprints, seguid por Mathieu. Mas o pelotao ficou agarrado, e ja com vento a favor os ataques intensificaram, com José e Grichone tambem a lançar bombas e a obrigar os outros a responderem. O Zeca calminho ficou a traz a controlar de longe o pelotao. Apos a linha ferrea Grichone lança mais uns ataques, mas é Kinha que mete a bicicleta num ritmo de sprint longo, e mantem até o principio da subida, onde Miguel levanta aos poucos o ritmo, seguido por Mathieu, Mario, Patrick e Zeca. No ponto do rei de Montanha o Miguel abre o sprint dele, seguido da dupla Mathieu/Mario e a traz Patrick e Zeca. A dupla na perseguição de Miguel nao se apercebam do Zeca que ultrapassa-os e vai na busca do Miguel. O fim, com todos os concorrentes divididos por escassos segundos, foi ecitante. Mas a grande vitória foi ver Danilo Correia participar e acabar a prova! Outro parabéns é para Lars Noren, novo ciclista do Clube, que com os seus 62 anos consegiu manter-se com o pelotao mesmo depois der furado e consegiu sexto lugar. E mais uma vez a todos (desta vez foram Todos!) os ciclistas que concluiram a prova, que com o vento forte, nao foi nada fácil.