Matias denies McGill at the line and wins stage 2 at Volta a Portugal

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Wildlife Generation rider finishes second in bunch sprint

Joao Matias wins stage 2 of 2022 Volta a Portugal
Joao Matias wins stage 2 of 2022 Volta a Portugal (Image credit: Volta a Portugal)

João Matias (Tavfer-Mortágua-Ovos Matinados) won stage 2 of the Volta a Portugal, beating the USA’s Scott McGill (Wildlife Generation) in a sprint finish in Castelo Branco in the centre of Portugal.

Matias, who emotionally celebrated his first-ever win at the race, was protected and guided by teammate António Barbio on the uphill cobbled of the final kilometre. They avoided a crash in the final 2km and took advantage of a lead out by Glassdrive-Q8-Anicolor through a series of sweeping curves. When the finish line appeared, Matias kicked early to distance his rivals, passing Delio Fernández (Atum General-Tavira-Maria Novo Hotel) and Glassdrive to take the win.

In the opening hour of racing, a trio of riders sailed away for a breakaway and took sprint points at Campo Maior and Portalegre – Asier Etxeberria (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Edwin Torres (Java Kiwi Atlántico) and Fábio Oliveria (ABTF Betão-Feirense).

A crash in the peloton on a flat section of road caused three riders to abandon the race – US rider Noah Granigan (Generation Wildlife), Juan Fernando Calle (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Francisco Guerreiro (Efapel Cycling).

With 29km to go, the original break of Oliveria, Torres, and Etxeberria plus the addition of Francisco Marques (LA Alumínios-Credibom-Marcos Car), had 1:33 on the peloton, but the peloton began to pick up the pace in the chase on the lower slopes of the Retaxo climb, which dragged out for 13.7km. 

Etxeberria launched a solo attack with just under 25km to go. With the bright yellow of Glassdrive Q8 Anicolor riders at the front of the peloton, the breakaway's hopes ended as the teams queued up for the sprint finish.

The Volta a Portugal heads into the mountains on Sunday with the 159km third stage from Sertã to Alto da Torre at 1977 metres.

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Stephen Farrand
Stephen Farrand
Editor-at-large

Stephen is one of the most experienced members of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. Before becoming Editor-at-large, he was Head of News at Cyclingnews. He has previously worked for Shift Active Media, Reuters and Cycling Weekly. He is a member of the Board of the Association Internationale des Journalistes du Cyclisme (AIJC).

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