Post by : Bianca
Haleem
Adrià Pericas claimed his first professional victory on Stage 7 of the 2026 Volta a Portugal, delivering the win during his debut season with UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
The 20-year-old Spaniard finished first in a three-rider sprint after a demanding stage in Portugal. He completed the stage in 3:48:32, finishing ahead of Anicolor/Campicarn riders Artem Nych and Alexis Guerin, who recorded the same time.
The victory also lifted Pericas to third place overall in the race.
Pericas Emerges Strongest on Alto de Germil
Pericas, who joined UAE Team Emirates-XRG after graduating from the team's development squad, showed his strength on one of the toughest climbs of the stage.
The decisive section came on the Alto de Germil, a 11.9-kilometre climb averaging 5.9 percent. Pericas stayed with race leader Alexis Guerin and Guerin's Anicolor/Campicarn teammate Artem Nych as the pair attacked on the cobbled climb.
Guerin and Nych managed to open a gap on the other riders, but Pericas was the only rider able to remain with them.
Three Riders Break Clear
At the top of the Alto de Germil, Pericas, Guerin and Nych had established themselves at the front of the race. The trio maintained their advantage and were not caught before reaching the finish.
The final challenge was the Vila do Gerês, a 4.5-kilometre climb at an average gradient of 4 percent. The climb led the riders towards the finish at Termas do Gerês, where the three leaders fought for the stage victory.
Pericas ultimately won the three-way sprint to secure his first professional triumph.
17th UAE Team Emirates-XRG Winner in 2026
The Stage 7 victory makes Pericas the 17th different rider to win for UAE Team Emirates-XRG during the 2026 campaign.
For Pericas, the result marks his first professional victory in his debut season and adds another significant result to his progression from the team's development squad.
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