For Munton it has been "the best thing ever" to be in the Portuguese peloton

Byron Munton sought out the national peloton and found the style of racing he enjoys most there, with the South African cyclist confessing that representing Feirense-Beeceler “has been the best thing ever.”

At 26 years old, the fourth-place finisher in the 86th Tour of Portugal wanted to change his life, after two seasons with Hungarian Epronex, and called the sporting director of the Santa Maria da Feira team.

"My connection with Joaquim Andrade began in 2018 or 2019, when I was racing in Spain. We stayed in touch, and at the end of last year, I wanted to change teams and find a place where the racing style suited my characteristics, and I contacted Joaquim," he told Lusa news agency.

A professional since 2021, in Electro Hiper Europa, the 2022 South African time trial champion is in his fifth season on the European continent and has no hesitation in stating that representing Feirense-Beeceler “has been the best thing ever”.

"The races are tough every day, there's no easy terrain, which is what I like. And I'm really enjoying it," he confessed.

Byron Munton was surprised by the atmosphere he found in the national peloton, where "everyone is very close and cares for each other." "It's very special," he added.

The shy South African, who started cycling when his father bought him “a bike to get fit”, describes the Tour of Portugal, in which he is making his debut, as “spectacular”.

"I've never experienced a race like this before. The crowd is incredible, the organization—everything is fantastic," he summarized.

In the 'Grandíssima', as he insists on calling the 'queen' race of the national calendar, Munton entered the overall fight with great style, after winning at the top of Senhora da Graça, on Sunday.

"I'm entering the unknown. Anything that comes out of this race is a bonus," he assured Lusa.

For now, the leader of Feirense-Beeceler is in fourth place overall, just one second from the podium, more specifically from the third place of Jesús David Peña (AP Hotels&Resorts-Tavira-Farense), to whom he could lose in the mountains – on Saturday, the ninth stage ends at the top of Montejunto –, but not in the time trial.

Munton has until Sunday to 'dethrone' the Colombian climber, in a fight that will culminate in the 16.7-kilometer 'time trial' in Lisbon.

Byron Munton sought out the national peloton and found the style of racing he enjoys most there, with the South African cyclist confessing that representing Feirense-Beeceler “has been the best thing ever.”

At 26 years old, the fourth-place finisher in the 86th Tour of Portugal wanted to change his life, after two seasons with Hungarian Epronex, and called the sporting director of the Santa Maria da Feira team.

"My connection with Joaquim Andrade began in 2018 or 2019, when I was racing in Spain. We stayed in touch, and at the end of last year, I wanted to change teams and find a place where the racing style suited my characteristics, and I contacted Joaquim," he told Lusa news agency.

A professional since 2021, in Electro Hiper Europa, the 2022 South African time trial champion is in his fifth season on the European continent and has no hesitation in stating that representing Feirense-Beeceler “has been the best thing ever”.

"The races are tough every day, there's no easy terrain, which is what I like. And I'm really enjoying it," he confessed.

Byron Munton was surprised by the atmosphere he found in the national peloton, where "everyone is very close and cares for each other." "It's very special," he added.

The shy South African, who started cycling when his father bought him “a bike to get fit”, describes the Tour of Portugal, in which he is making his debut, as “spectacular”.

"I've never experienced a race like this before. The crowd is incredible, the organization—everything is fantastic," he summarized.

In the 'Grandíssima', as he insists on calling the 'queen' race of the national calendar, Munton entered the overall fight with great style, after winning at the top of Senhora da Graça, on Sunday.

"I'm entering the unknown. Anything that comes out of this race is a bonus," he assured Lusa.

For now, the leader of Feirense-Beeceler is in fourth place overall, just one second from the podium, more specifically from the third place of Jesús David Peña (AP Hotels&Resorts-Tavira-Farense), to whom he could lose in the mountains – on Saturday, the ninth stage ends at the top of Montejunto –, but not in the time trial.

Munton has until Sunday to 'dethrone' the Colombian climber, in a fight that will culminate in the 16.7-kilometer 'time trial' in Lisbon.

Byron Munton sought out the national peloton and found the style of racing he enjoys most there, with the South African cyclist confessing that representing Feirense-Beeceler “has been the best thing ever.”

At 26 years old, the fourth-place finisher in the 86th Tour of Portugal wanted to change his life, after two seasons with Hungarian Epronex, and called the sporting director of the Santa Maria da Feira team.

"My connection with Joaquim Andrade began in 2018 or 2019, when I was racing in Spain. We stayed in touch, and at the end of last year, I wanted to change teams and find a place where the racing style suited my characteristics, and I contacted Joaquim," he told Lusa news agency.

A professional since 2021, in Electro Hiper Europa, the 2022 South African time trial champion is in his fifth season on the European continent and has no hesitation in stating that representing Feirense-Beeceler “has been the best thing ever”.

"The races are tough every day, there's no easy terrain, which is what I like. And I'm really enjoying it," he confessed.

Byron Munton was surprised by the atmosphere he found in the national peloton, where "everyone is very close and cares for each other." "It's very special," he added.

The shy South African, who started cycling when his father bought him “a bike to get fit”, describes the Tour of Portugal, in which he is making his debut, as “spectacular”.

"I've never experienced a race like this before. The crowd is incredible, the organization—everything is fantastic," he summarized.

In the 'Grandíssima', as he insists on calling the 'queen' race of the national calendar, Munton entered the overall fight with great style, after winning at the top of Senhora da Graça, on Sunday.

"I'm entering the unknown. Anything that comes out of this race is a bonus," he assured Lusa.

For now, the leader of Feirense-Beeceler is in fourth place overall, just one second from the podium, more specifically from the third place of Jesús David Peña (AP Hotels&Resorts-Tavira-Farense), to whom he could lose in the mountains – on Saturday, the ninth stage ends at the top of Montejunto –, but not in the time trial.

Munton has until Sunday to 'dethrone' the Colombian climber, in a fight that will culminate in the 16.7-kilometer 'time trial' in Lisbon.