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Sérgio Paulinho is the new time trial champion of Portugal. The only Portuguese Astana Cycling Team rider was the fastest rider on the 27.6 K long circuit in Paredes. Paulinho was challenged by Tiago Machado, the U23 champion of the last two years, who finished only two seconds behind. Another young rider, Hélder Oliveira, the 2005 U23 national champion, was third. The course consisted of four difficult laps of 6.9 K in the town’s center. Paulinho started very strong but had to struggle till the end to keep his small advantage.

For the Portuguese champion, it is his third gold in the event (1999 U23, 2004, 2008), his first with the Kazakh based Astana Cycling Team. Paulinho’s career highlights include a silver medal in the 2004 Olympic Road Race (Athens) and a stage victory in the Tour of Spain (2006). Tomorrow, Paulinho will look to add to his achievements when he competes in the national road championship in Rebordosa.

“Since I am the only Portuguese rider representing Team Astana, it will be a great challenge for me to take the national road title. For this reason, I was extremely motivated to win today’s time trial. It is once again an honor to wear the Portuguese colors and represent the countries of both Portugal and Kazakhstan.”

Result Portugal Time Trial Championship (Paredes, 27.6 K):
1. Sérgio Paulinho (ASTANA); 2. Tiago Machado (MADEINOX-BOAVISTA) 0.02; 3. Hélder Oliveira 01.20 (BARBOT-SIPER)

Team Astana’s latest national champions include:
Portugal TT: Sérgio Paulinho
Kazakhstan Road Race: Assan Bazayev
Russia TT: Vladimir Gusev
Kazakhstan TT: Andrey Mizurov

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Steve Morabito will not participate on Sunday in the Swiss national road championship in Gansingen. Steve, recovered from his shoulder luxation in the Giro d’Italia crashed on training and is not able to ride.