Portuguese ITT Champs

Costa claims victory in Pataias to increase Movistar Team's 2013 victory account to 22, after sucess from Castroviejo and Dowsett in Spain and Britain

In just under 24 hours -from 10pm on Thursday night, when Alex Dowsett claimed his third British title, to 7pm today, when Rui Costa crossed victorious the finishing line of the Portuguese TT champ-, Movistar Team added three more victories to their already vigorous -22 to date- season tally in 2013.

After Dowsett’s success and Friday’s resounding win by Jonathan Castroviejo in the Spanish TT in Bembibre, Costa completed the Blue triple with an impressive success in the Portuguese time trial. The man from Aguçadoura, recovered and in glorious form after winning the Tour de Suisse, dominated against all his rivals in the 34-kilometer course in Pataias.

Followed into the team car by José Luis Laguía, Rui beat Domingos Gonçalves (Radio Popular-Onda) by almost one minute and a half, with Hugo Sabido (LA Aluminios) in third. It’s Costa’s fifth win of the season as he will try to shine again on Sunday at the road race, in a spectacular season that will continue in just seven days with the big challenge of the Tour de France.

Picture: pad.pt