Luis Leon Sanchez managed to keep up with race leader Gustave Cesar Veloso (OFM) in today's stage of the Volta a Portugal and moved into second in the overall standings. The Caja Rural leader hopes to hang onto the best in the final mountain stages before dealing his rivals a blow in the time trial.

No longer riding for a WorldTour team, Luis Leon Sanchez has made the Volta a Portugal a big objective in the second part of the season and the Spaniard has gone into the race as the biggest star. Having kicked off the event with a solid time trial, he has lost a bit of time to the best in the mountain stages but today he managed to keep up with race leader Gustavo Veloso in the third consecutive summit finish.

The result was enough to move the Caja Rural leader into second overall, 29 seconds off the overall lead. As a noted time triallist, he is looking forward to the big test against the clock on the penultimate day where he hopes to take back the his time loss.

To get there, however, he needs to overcome two flat stages and Thursday's queen stage where he hopes to limit his losses compared to the best climbers.

"I was good, I am getting better every day," he said. "There are stronger riders than me but I just have to hold on to see if I can reach the time trial in a good position.

"We're doing a good race and we must continue. The team is very good, very competitive and is riding fast every day. The Portuguese teams have prepared this race well and have been riding fast right from the start.

"We are trying to do our race and by joining the breaks, we prove to be very strong.. We already have a stage win with Vigano, we will try to get another one and fight for a good GC."

"Once again we have done a great stage," manager Jaime Garzon said. "It cost a lot to be in all breaks but we have had lots of bad luck with the punctures which cost Vigano the points jersey.

"Madrazo was very good, active and in the right place, being part of the break. We controlled the stage to go for the win, and we were there. We are protagonists and we find Luisle getting better every day.

"We have some important stages. The next one could be decided in a sprint, then the queen stages, then another stage and then the time trial. The mountain stage will be very selective and can hurt but we expect to get to the TT with options. With the passage of time we are improving and we continue to use our energy wsely . Let's see if we can win another stage and get the final time trial with options for the GC."