Amaro Manuel Antunes, who claimed 5th place overall in Volta ao Algarve this season, has signed a two-year deal with CCC Sprandi Polkowice.
“He has a great potential to be one of the top climbers. We believe that he will fill Jan Hirt’s shoes, who is leaving our squad after the season and that Amaro will shine in the mountains as much as Czech”, said Piotr Wadecki, DS of CCC Sprandi Polkowice
“He’s proved that he’s capable of doing just that at Volta ao Algarve, where he was successfully competing against top World Tour riders. He is also a solid time trialist, so he should do well in stage races”.
“He’s been developing well and 2017 was his breakthrough season. We are very happy that he is joining our team, where he will be able to truly spread his wings.”
26-year old Antunes has spent most of his cycling career racing for Portuguese teams (W52/FC Porto, LA Aluminios – Antarte, Banco BIC – Carmim, Carmin – Prio, LA – Antarte), with one year (2013) for Italian Ceramica Flaminia – Fondriest.
He claimed most of his achievements in national races and the biggest one of them was 5th place overall in Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta, which featured quality lineup (Michał Kwiatkowski, Primoz Roglic, Daniel Martin among others). In addition he won the “queen” stage and took 4th on another mountain stage.
Antunes’ palmares also include GC victory in GP Internacional Torres Vedras – Trofeu Joaquim Agostinho, as well as in one-day event Classica da Arrabida – Cylin’Portugal. He also finished 2nd overall in Volta a Portugal em Bicicleta Santander Totta (all in 2017).
“I feel very happy to have reached an agreement with CCC Sprandi Polkowice. It is a team that provides great conditions for riders to compete at the international level, against top teams in the world. I hope that in 2018 I will continue my progress and will have the opportunity to claim good results for the team in the biggest races of the cycling calendar”, Antunes explains.
