Guérin wins Volta a Portugal stage amid mourning for Tarling

Alexis Guérin of Anicolor/Campicarn claimed victory in the ninth stage of the Volta a Portugal, solidifying his position as the race leader. The French rider broke away from his rivals in the final meters, completing the 142.3-kilometer stage from Paredes to Mondim de Basto in 3 hours, 44 minutes, and 55 seconds.

José Neves of GI Group Holding-Simoldes-UDO and Guérin's teammate Artem Nych finished second and third, respectively, trailing by 3 and 9 seconds. Guérin now leads Nych, the winner of the last two editions, by 1 minute and 2 seconds in the general classification. Spanish riders Jokin Murguialday and Jesús del Pino also secured top-ten finishes.

The race was profoundly marked by the tragic death of 19-year-old British cyclist Finlay Tarling, who died Friday following an accident during the competition. A minute of silence was observed before the stage began, and Guérin wore a black jersey instead of the traditional yellow. The entire peloton wore black armbands in tribute to Tarling.

Tarling's team, NSN Development Team, withdrew from the race. In their place, other teams created a memorial at the stage finish with flowers, candles, and jerseys. Portuguese authorities are investigating the circumstances of Tarling's collision with a light vehicle. The 87th Volta a Portugal is set to conclude Sunday with a stage from Maia to Porto.