Cyclist Rafael Silva today won the 11th Portuguese medal at the Mediterranean Games in Tarragona, Catalonia, thanks to third place in the road cycling background. Portugal placed five men in the top ten.
The 143-kilometer race, took place on a permanent track, climbs up and down, eventually deciding to sprint. Rafael Silva put himself well to beat for the top positions and reached the bronze medal, being only beaten by two Italians, Jalel Duranti and Filippo Tagliani, who cut the goal by this order.
Despite the good result, Rafael Silva believes that, with a touch of luck, could have gone further. "I am very happy with this medal, which is very important for me and for Portugal. However, I feel I could have won the first place. At a roundabout, 200 meters away, we entered very fast and the Italian corridors ahead of me almost fell. They ended up not falling, but I had to brake deep and lost a few meters, which could not be recovered to overcome them, "says the corridor of Vila Nova de Gaia.
Team Portugal was the protagonist throughout the race, taking advantage of the hardest phase of the course to attack. Domingos Gonçalves was in a group of fugitives, ending up isolating himself and leaving in search of an epic victory. The minhoto had more than 3 minutes lead, but the squad was organized and absorbed the Portuguese runner about 4 kilometers from the end.
"The course was broken legs, but not as hard as the graphics indicated. Despite this, the climbs left the squad split in several groups and Domingos Gonçalves attacked from afar, trying to surprise the opponents. The Italian team organized the persecution and enlisted the help of Slovenia to quash the escape. We just had to try to get on the podium in the sprint and we did it, "says national coach José Poeira.
Team Portugal had eight men in the men's pool, with a very consistent performance with five men in the top ten. In addition to Rafael Silva, third, they were in the top 10, with the same time as the winner, Joni Brandão, sixth, João Rodrigues, seventh, Frederico Figueiredo, ninth, and Domingos Gonçalves, tenth.
André Carvalho was 18th, 37 seconds behind the winner, Tiago Antunes was 19th, 47 seconds, and Francisco Campos 45th, 19m34s.
In the afternoon today will be the turn of Daniela Reis, Maria Martins and Soraia Silva pedal in the 89 kilometers of the women's race, which begins at 15:00 in mainland Portugal.
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