– July 19th 2024
The team is ready. Ready for the long journey to the westernmost point of continental Europe to pick up where Team Vorarlberg left off so furiously last year with Colin Stüssi’s overall victory at the Volta a Portugal, the fourth longest tour on the UCI calendar.
The line-up is set – ALL for Colin Stüssi!
Sports director Werner Salmen has nominated the following riders alongside Colin Stüssi: Lukas Meiler, Pirmin Benz, Lukas Rüegg, Felix Stehli, Jannis Peter and Alexander Konychev.
Thomas Kofler – Team Manager: “It took us a very long time to get going this year due to many absences due to illness. Last Sunday, when we won the Austrian Cycling League, you could see the broad collective of the team. We will build on this. Last year, the Peleton in Portugal underestimated us. That’s different this year. We are now the hunted, but all the riders and the broad support team are ready to tackle the eleven days of racing with focus and the best possible preparation!”
Statement Tour of Portugal winner 2023 Colin Stüssi: “This year’s Tour of Portugal will once again be a big challenge, especially as defending champions. Nevertheless, and precisely for this reason, we are motivated and will give our best, just like last year. Then we’ll see what we can achieve in the end.”
Team captain Lukas Meiler: “We’re going into the race with the aim of defending the title, even if it won’t be an easy task. We should all be in good shape, as Sunday’s race showed. Personally, I’m trying to ride a good prologue. Then we’ll have to see what opportunities arise depending on the situation.”
Statement Alexander Konychev: “It’s my first appearance in Portugal. Many people have already told me that it’s a super tough race. The team is ready, we will give everything as always. Personally, my goal is to win a stage, but the priority 1 goal is the overall classification for Colin Stüssi. We’ll fight for that together.”
Facts: The 85th Volta a Portugal UCI 2.1 starts on Wednesday 24.07. in Agueda with a prologue time trial over 5.6 kilometers, and ends after 1540 kilometers with a time trial in Viseu. In between, nine stages will be ridden across Portugal. Rest day Monday 29.07.
Informations Volta a Portugal https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/volta-a-portugal/2024
Line-up Team Vorarlberg: Colin Stüssi, Jannis Peter, Lukas Meiler, Felix Stehli, Lukas Rüegg, Alexander Konychev, Pirmin Benz;
Presseservice Team Vorarlberg
www.team-vorarlberg.at
office@proevent-cycling.at
(Copyright Photos Team Vorarlberg @Source)