Efapel were the big winners in the Volta a Portugal as the team managed to move Joni Brandao and Alejandro Marque into second and third overall respectively. The pair benefited from a mechanical from Delio Fernandez who had started the stage in second position.

"I did not want to finish second in this way," Brandao said. "I did not like it to happen because of a mechanical. However, it is very good to finish on the podium. I do not want to celebrate yet because there is still one stage left and something can always happen . Anyway, I hope to finish the Tour of Portugal in second place, "said Jóni Brandão. "If we had said yesterday that we were going to have two riders on the podium, it would have looked hard but it was not impossible. We managed it. It is very important for the team. Although we did not win, we did a great Tour of Portugal."

"The balance for Efapel is very positive. We got the win with Filipe Cardoso and ended up with two riders on the podium. For me, it's great. After almost a year without competition, to come back and get on the podium is very good. In a year, I hope to fight for the best position," Marque said.

"Unfortunately, Delio had a problem. Somehow it takes something away from the excellent time trial of Jóni and Alejandro. But when it happened, Jóni had already gained enough time on Delio. Jóni has grown a lot since last year. He is more of a rider, more confident and the result is clear," sports director Americo Silva said.