The spotlight is on Mariana Machado, Portugal’s champion in the 10-kilometer event, as she stands out among the 26 athletes selected for the first edition of the European Road Championships. Notably absent from the lineup is Isaac Nader, the two-time national champion in the distance.
In this inaugural championship, which will take place in Brussels and Leuven, Belgium, on April 12-13, Portugal will have teams participating in all events except the women’s marathon, where only two athletes will represent the country. Machado will compete in the 10-kilometer event, the same distance where she won the national title. Solange Jesus, the vice-champion, will run in the marathon, while Mónica Lopes Silva, the bronze medalist, will participate in the half-marathon.
The women’s half-marathon will also feature Susana Godinho Santos, the sole Portuguese athlete in the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Her presence is a highlight, especially given the absence of Samuel Barata, who also competed in the longer distance in Paris.
On the men’s side, without Isaac Nader and Samuel Barata, André Pereira, who won bronze in the 10-kilometer national event, will participate in the half-marathon. The first edition of the European Road Championships will kick off with the half-marathon on April 12, followed by the 10-kilometer and marathon events the next day. The Portuguese team will be led by Domingos Castro, the president of the federation.
Athlete Lineup for the European Road Championships
The following athletes have been selected for the championships:
- 10 kilometers:
- Women: Ana Mafalda Ferreira (Sporting), Ana Marinho (Salvador do Campo), Laura Taborda (Sporting de Braga), Mariana Machado (Sporting de Braga), and Mónica Silva (Salvador do Campo)
- Men: Duarte Santos (Sporting), Hugo Rocha (Estreito), João Pedro Pereira (Sporting de Braga), José Carlos Pinto (Benfica), Pedro Amaro (Benfica), and Rúben Amaral (Sporting)
- Half-marathon:
- Women: Carla Martinho (Recreio de Águeda), Mónica Lopes Silva (Macedo de Cavaleiros), Rafaela Almeida Fonseca (Recreio de Águeda), and Susana Godinho Santos (Recreio de Águeda)
- Men: André Pereira (Benfica), Luís Oliveira (Recreio de Águeda), Miguel Borges (Sporting de Braga), Miguel Ângelo Marques (Sporting de Braga), and Rafael Lopes (Santa Tecla)
- Marathon:
- Women: Solange Jesus (Sporting de Braga) and Vanessa Carvalho (Sporting de Braga)
- Men: Fábio Oliveira (Macedo de Cavaleiros), João Almeida (Recreio de Águeda), José Sousa (Macedo de Cavaleiros), and Rui Pinto (Sporting)
