Image: from Diário de Coimbra X @diariodecoimbra
By Open Chronicle Cycling
10 August 2026
Julius Johansen delivered another demonstration of his strength against the clock at the Volta a Portugal, winning Stage 5 from Anadia to Águeda as Alexis Guérin successfully defended the Yellow Jersey ahead of the first rest day.
The UAE Team Emirates XRG rider completed the 17.4 kilometre individual time trial in 21 minutes and 13 seconds, adding a second victory to the one he claimed in the opening prologue in Lisbon.
Tiago Antunes produced an outstanding ride for Efapel Cycling to finish second, 30 seconds behind Johansen, while Axel van der Tuuk completed the stage podium at 35 seconds.
Two-time defending champion Artem Nych was fourth, 39 seconds behind the winner, a performance that allowed him to reduce his deficit to teammate and race leader Guérin.
The winning run! 🔥
It was a LONG wait for Julius Johansen, but he wins Stage 5 at the Volta a Portugal – his second victory this week! 👏 pic.twitter.com/omVjjYcDiK
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) August 10, 2026
Johansen proves fastest again
Johansen had already established himself as the strongest rider against the clock when he won the opening 6.5 kilometre prologue in Lisbon and became the first Yellow Jersey of the 2026 race.
Five days later, the Dane confirmed that performance over a considerably longer and more demanding course.
The route between Anadia and Águeda offered much more than a straightforward test of aerodynamics. Its changing terrain and intermediate climbing required riders to balance power, pacing and positioning throughout the effort.
Johansen managed those demands better than anyone.
His time of 21:13 proved unbeatable and gave UAE Team Emirates XRG another victory after the team had surrendered the overall lead on the climb to Torre one day earlier.
Tiago Antunes delivers major Portuguese performance
Behind Johansen, Tiago Antunes produced one of the most important performances of his race.
The Efapel Cycling leader stopped the clock only 30 seconds slower than the stage winner, securing second place and gaining significant time on several of his general classification rivals.
More importantly, the result lifted Antunes into third place overall.
After the mountains of Serra da Estrela established the first major hierarchy among the overall contenders, the Águeda time trial confirmed that Antunes belongs firmly in the battle for the podium.
He now sits 1 minute and 52 seconds behind Guérin as the Volta enters its first rest day.
Nych closes the gap
Artem Nych also emerged from the time trial with reasons for optimism.
The defending champion started the day 1:26 behind Guérin following Anicolor Campicarn’s dominant performance on the summit finish at Torre.
Nych’s fourth place in Águeda allowed him to take 14 seconds back from his teammate.
The Russian now trails Guérin by 1:12.
That leaves Anicolor Campicarn in an exceptionally strong tactical position. The Portuguese team holds first and second overall, but the reduced gap between its two leaders also means the internal hierarchy could become increasingly important as the race approaches its decisive northern stages.
Guérin survives his first test in yellow
For Alexis Guérin, Stage 5 was about defending the advantage he created with his spectacular solo victory at Torre.
The Frenchman had transformed the general classification on Stage 4, attacking on the final climb and riding alone to the summit to take both the stage victory and the Yellow Jersey.
The following day’s individual time trial presented a very different challenge.
Guérin was unable to match the specialists, but his performance was sufficient to keep control of the race.
He reached the rest day with a 1:12 advantage over Nych and 1:52 over Antunes.
After two consecutive days that tested completely different qualities, climbing at Torre and individual pacing between Anadia and Águeda, Guérin remains the man everyone else must beat.
General classification after Stage 5
1. Alexis Guérin, Anicolor Campicarn, Leader
2. Artem Nych, Anicolor Campicarn, +1:12
3. Tiago Antunes, Efapel Cycling, +1:52
The time trial has therefore tightened the battle behind Guérin while placing Antunes firmly inside the overall podium positions.
Two wins for Johansen
Johansen’s second stage victory also gives his Volta a distinctive shape.
He won the opening prologue in Lisbon, wore the first Yellow Jersey of the race and has now won the only other individual race against the clock before the rest day.
While the mountains have determined the current overall hierarchy, Johansen has established himself as the outstanding time trial specialist of the 87th Volta a Portugal.
Two individual tests against the clock have produced the same winner.
The race reaches its first pause
Stage 5 completed a demanding sequence that began with the long road towards Serra da Estrela and continued with the summit finish at Torre before immediately asking the general classification riders to perform alone against the clock.
The peloton will now have its first rest day on Tuesday, 11 August, in Santa Maria da Feira.
Racing resumes on Wednesday with Stage 6 from Santa Maria da Feira and Europarque towards Peso da Régua in the Alto Douro.
The official route lists the stage at approximately 129 kilometres and marks the beginning of the second half of the race.
From there, the Volta continues towards another series of potentially decisive stages, including the finish at Termas do Gerês and, later, the iconic ascent to Senhora da Graça.
Guérin will begin that phase in yellow.
Nych remains within striking distance.
Antunes has moved onto the podium.
And Johansen has already established himself as the fastest man against the clock.
The first half of the Volta has created the hierarchy. The roads of northern Portugal will now decide whether it can survive.