Caja Rural - Seguros RGA got a fantastic start to GP Internacional Beiras e Serra da Estrela as Eduard Prades won the opening stage in a bunch sprint. During the stage, the peloton split up in two big groups. Caja Rural - Seguros RGA had six riders in the front group. On the final kilometers, the team worked hard to make sure the last rider from a late breakaway was caught. It worked out and, in the sprint, Prades finished off the good job by his teammates as he outsprinted Luca Wackermann (Nasr Dubai) for the win.
 
In the general classification, Prades leads to Wackermann by two seconds. Caja Rural - Seguros RGA’s Ángel Madrazo is fourth overall, just six seconds behind his teammate.

 
Eduard Prades said: “I really have to thank my team today. They worked spectacularly. It was a hard stage but we were always at the front. At the end, it was difficult to catch the last guy but my teammates did a fantastic job so I could sprint for the win. I’m very happy with this victory. Now, we will take it day by day. The main goal is still for one of my teammates to win the race overall”. 

On Saturday, the Portuguese stage race continues with another undulating stage. However, even though the 198.6 km from Sabugal to Fundão include several climbs, it could very well end in a sprint once again.