Rafael Reis was the fastest in the prologue in Setubal on Monday and sets off with a two-second lead over César Martingil (Liberty Seguros-Carglass) and three seconds over Dane Louis Bendixen (Coop).

The first real stage of the race is scheduled to start at 12:45 in Alcacer do Sal, on a day when temperatures are expected to reach 44ºC in the town near Setubal.

After cycling across Alentejo in what is expected to be the hottest day of the year so far, the finishing line is in Albufeira’s Avenida dos Descobrimentos.