Vila Nova de Cacela, Portugal – Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team's Ruben Guerreiro earned a pair of time bonuses Saturday at GP Liberty Seguros to slot into sixth overall with one day of the race to go.
Guerreiro, the race's defending champion, finished in the same time as stage winner Jensen August (Team Coop-Oster Hus) and pulled on the best young rider jersey. Pierre Moncorge (Bliz-Merida) was runner-up and Vicente Garcia de Mateos (Louletano-Hospital de Louie) was third.
"The boys rode great in what was a hectic day of attrition," Axeon Hagens Berman Assistant Director Jeff Louder said. "We are looking forward to helping Ruben move up in general classification Sunday, as well as defend the best young rider jersey."
Guerreiro was second on the first time bonus sprint of the 151-kilometer race that started and ended at Vila Nova de Cacela. He was third on another and was also the third rider over the top of both of the day's categorized climbs.
"Ruben was very aggressive and obviously motivated to do well in his home country," Louder said. "The whole team represented well, although nothing ever stuck. We were in every move that mattered."
Twice the race had to be stopped due to crashes. The first one, after 60 kilometers, involved Axeon Hagens Berman's Colin Joyce and nearly 40 others. After a 38-minute delay, the race resumed, only to be stopped again with about 40 kilometers to go. Joyce's injuries amount to only scrapes and bruises, Louder said.
Sunday's final stage is 186.6 kilometers, starting and ending in Lagoa.
