Castelo Branco, Portugal – The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team’s Boy van Poppel (NED) continued the Team’s string of outstanding performances throughout the course of the past eight days, by bolting to a fourth place finish in the Wednesday, August 15, Opening Prologue in the 2012 Volta a Portugal. Van Poppel, who is now in his second year with the U.S. based Pro Continental outfit, has had an excellent year and finished just three seconds off the winner, Reinardt Van Rensburg of South Africa. Representing team MTN Qhubeka, Van Rensburg’s time of 00:02:48 in the 2.2km individual time trial was enough to narrowly oust Hugo Sabido (POR) of LA Aluminios Antarte from the top spot on the podium, and top a close third place effort from Onda’s Jose Goncalves (POR). Not much time separated the top 10 riders, as Team UnitedHealthcare’s Brad White (USA), who has also had an outstanding year on the bike this season, took 10th place in the Prologue.

Photo by Jonathan Devich (epicimages.us)

Team Director, Hendrik Redant, said, “This was a great way to start off racing here in Portugal. Boy van Poppel’s performance was outstanding, Brad White was strong, and the guys look good. A solid performance from the Team today and we’re looking forward to really getting underway with this race over the next 10 days.”

The Volta a Portugal em Bicicleta 2012 (Tour of Portugal) continues tomorrow, Thursday, August 16, with a 200.8km Stage One road race from Termas Monfortinho to Oliveira do Hospital. The 10-stage Tour will run straight through from August 15 – August 26, 2012.

TEAM UNITEDHEALTHCARE ROSTER FOR THE 2012 VOLTA A PORTUGAL (August 15-26):
• Hilton Clarke (AUS)
• Jonny Clarke (AUS)
• Marc de Maar (CUR)
• Davide Frattini (ITA)
• Jason McCartney (USA)
• Kai Reus (NED)
• Jay Thomson (RSA)
• Boy van Poppel (NED)
• Brad White (USA)
• Team Director: Hendrik Redant (BEL)

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