Having got safely through today's sprint stage, Gustavo Cesar Veloso goes into the rest day in the Volta a Portugal with a 29-second lead over Luis Leon Sanchez. However, the race leader fears his rival and hopes to gain time ahead of the time trial on the penultimate day.

Gustavo Cesar Veloso can go into the rest day of the Volta a Portugal with the knowledge that he has got his title defence off to a solid start. However, the OFM leader takes nothing for granted yet as the final part of the race offers both a time trial and the queen stage.

Veloso has a 29-second lead over second-placed Luis Leon Sanchez who is known as a strong time triallist. Hence, he hopes to gain time in Thursday's big mountain stage to Torre which offers him a final opportunity to extend his advantage ahead of the TT.

"It's good to be in yellow on the rest day," he said. "Now it is time to start to think about the stage to Torre which will be a decisive day for the race. We need to be cautious when it comes to a rider like Luis Leon. He has great quality and we cannot allow ourselves never underestimate him. We must try to increase our advantage."