Rui Costa (Movistar) continued his recent winning streak at the Portuguese time trial championships as he put 1.22 into nearest challenger Domingos Goncalves (Onda) on a short 34km course in Pataias. With the win, he finally takes the national time trial crown which was taken away from him in 2010 after a positive test for methylhexanamine.

With his recent win at the Tour de Suisse, Rui Costa had already done a lot to prove that he is ready for the Tour de France but if anyone still had any doubts over his capabilities, he once again underlined his class today with a hugely convincing win at the Portuguese time trial championships. On a short 34km course, he put no less than 1.22 into 2nd placed Domingos Goncalves while Hugo Sabido (LA Antarte) completed  the podium a further 6 seconds adrift.

The win is actually his second at the event but when he first stepped onto the top step on the podium in 2010, a subsequent doping test came up positive for methylhexanamine and he was later disqualified. He was handed a one-year ban which was later reduced to just 5 months and he returned to competition in April 2011. Since then he has gone from success to success, winning the Tour de Suisse twice in a row and taking a stage win in Superbesse-Sancy at the 2011 Tour de France.

Today's win proves that he has hit his peak condition just at the right time for the world's biggest race where he will line up as part of a dangerous three-pronged Movistar attack. With Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana also in its ranks, the Spanish squad appears to be one of the strongest in the entire race.

Before he turns his complete focus to the Tour, Costa will line up at his national road race championships on Sunday where he aims to take another maiden national title.

Result:

1. Rui Costa 42.29

2. Domingos Goncalves +1.22

3. Hugo Sabido +1.28

4. Daniel Silva +1.35

5. Fabio Silvestre +1.36

6. Jose Goncalves +2.00

7. Diego Nunes +2.07

8. Mario Costa

9. Andre Mourato +2.11

10. Hernani Broco +2.17