As of today Alexis Guérin is the man to beat in the fight for the Yellow Jersey at the Volta a Portugal Jogos Santa Casa, following the first major showdown for the general classification of the 87th edition of the race. The French rider proved stronger on the queen stage of the 2026 Volta, characterized by the iconic Torre climb, and now leads the general classification after four days of racing that have favored sprinters above all.

"I'm very happy. It's an impressive victory for my career and for the team. We worked hard for this type of mountain stage. I'm very pleased because the team's tactics worked perfectly. It was very tough, but I'm very happy because my wife and daughter are here," Guérin said after crossing the finish line.

THE RACE. The stage started from Figueiró dos Vinhos, and it was immediately clear that this would be the first major test in the fight for the Yellow Jersey. Unlike the previous stages, it took time and several failed attempts before the breakaway of the day finally formed. Only after the first intermediate sprint with time bonuses of the day, won by race leader Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates XRG), did a group manage to break away.

After several kilometers of chases and regroupings, the 11 riders who would face the final climb to Torre at the head of the race finally came together. Rui Oliveira was naturally the main name, but there were also two other jersey holders present: Oscar Rota (Feira dos Sofás-Boavista), wearing the Blue Continental Jersey as the leader of the Mountain Classification, and Daniel Cavia (Burgos-Burpellet-BH), holder of the Orange Galp Jersey in the Points Classification. The group also included Bruno Lemes (Localiza Meoo / Swift Pro Cycling), Tomas Contte (Aviludo Louletano-Loulé), João Medeiros and Diogo Narciso (Credibom / LA Alumínios / Marcos Car), Francisco Pereira and Pedro Andrade (Feirense-Beeceler), Andrey André (GI Group Holding Simoldes-UDO) and Jorge Lopez (Aviludo-Louletano-Loulé).

Rui Oliveira, who later received the EBRO Award for Combativity in his farewell to the Yellow Jersey, crossed the finish line first again at the Silvares sprint, while Cavia claimed the maximum points at Pampilhosa da Serra.

In the climbers' classification, Rota consolidated his advantage by claiming the most points at Braçal (Category 2) and Alto da Portela do Armodouro. His only defeat on a climb came at Alto da Portela de Gavião, where João Medeiros reached the summit first.

The leading group remained compact until the foot of the final climb, but Torre shows no mercy to anyone. The selection happened quickly and, one by one, the breakaway riders began to drop off, while the general classification contenders emerged from behind.
The verdict of the queen stage

Among the favorites, Alexis Guérin stood out. The Frenchman attacked with over ten kilometers still to go and never looked back. While the first chasing group, composed of Artem Nych (Anicolor/Campicarn), Jokin Murguialday (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Pedro Silva (Feira dos Sofás-Boavista) and José Fernandes (GI Group Holding Simoldes-UDO), hesitated behind him, Guérin's advantage grew steadily, reaching almost two minutes. And so the queen stage was decided.

Nych, who launched a final attack to secure second place, arrived at this year's Volta as a two-time winner of the race and as the undisputed leader of Anicolor/Campicarn. Yet the road had a different verdict in store. Guérin now leads the general classification with an advantage of one minute and 26 seconds over his teammate, while José Fernandes is third at one minute and 58 seconds.

The fight for the Yellow Jersey, however, could take on a new form as early as tomorrow during the flat individual time trial between Anadia and Águeda, the fifth stage of the Volta a Portugal.

FINISHING ORDER

1st 7 10008853353 GUERIN Alexis Elite ANICOLOR/CAMPICARN (POR) 4:09:49
2nd 1 10008687847 NYCH Artem Elite ANICOLOR/CAMPICARN (POR) 4:11:33 +1:44
3rd 72 10044833178 SILVA Pedro Elite FEIRA DOS SOFÁS - BOAVISTA (POR) 4:11:45 +1:56
4th 32 10042384839 MURGUIALDAY Jokin Elite EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI (ESP) 4:11:47 +1:58
5th 144 10014517143 FERNANDES José Elite GI GROUP HOLDING - SIMOLDES - UDO (POR) 4:11:47 s.t.
6th 131 10056423971 GONZÁLEZ Abner Elite FEIRENSE BEECELER (POR) 4:12:06 +2:17
7th 107 10080261521 BARBAS Rafael* Sub23 TAVFER-OVOS MATINADOS-MORTÁGUA (POR) 4:12:07 +2:18
8th 5 10026890707 FERREIRA Louis Elite ANICOLOR/CAMPICARN (POR) 4:12:09 +2:20
9th 121 10015621529 DUARTE Emanuel Elite CREDIBOM / LA ALUMÍNIOS / MARCOS CAR (POR) 4:12:09 s.t.
10th 64 10035261504 PEÑA Jesus Elite EFAPEL CYCLING (POR) 4:12:09 s.t.