With Joni Brandao and Alejandro Marque both on the final podium and a stage win for Filipe Cardoso, Efapel had a highly successful Volta a Portugal.

"Until the penultimate day, we fought for the objective we set ourselves: the yellow jersey. We have to congratulate the opponent because he was stronger. Our result was very good, given the superiority of the winner," sports director Americo Silva said.

Brandao was 2.11 behind Gustavo Cesar Veloso while teammate Marque was 8 seconds further adrift.