Caja Rural - Seguros RGA finished off three good days in GP Internacional Beiras e Serra da Estrela with Sergio Pardilla taking second place on the final stage and in the general classification.

Having won the first two stages with Eduard Prades and José Gonçalves, Caja Rural - Seguros RGA took responsibility on Sunday’s queen stage of the Portuguese race. The team set a high pace as the peloton approached the final climb, Penhas da Saúde. This category 1 climb, with an average gradient of 8 %, was expected to create big differences in the general classification, which is exactly what happened.

Pardilla joined an early attack with Joni Brandão (Efapel) and three other riders but with 6 km to go, only Brandão and Pardilla were left at the front. Soon after, Brandão went solo to win the stage and the race overall, while Pardilla held on to second place.

Sports director Josemi Fernández said: “We leave this race with a bitter-sweet feeling. Naturally, we are happy for winning two stages but it’s really a shame to finish second on the final stage, second in the overall classification, second in the team GC and second in the intermediate sprint competition. However, I’m very satisfied with the attitude the team showed here. Today, Brandão was the strongest rider and we just have to congratulate him”.