A surprising name has made the cut for Portugal’s cycling squad heading to the World Championship in Rwanda. Tiago Antunes, a rider who typically races on the domestic circuit, earned his spot after a strong fifth-place finish in the recent Volta a Portugal. His inclusion adds an interesting dynamic to the team preparing for the demanding race from September 21 to 28.
Antunes, representing Efapel, will join a group of more internationally recognized talents. The roster includes António Morgado and Ivo Oliveira, both riding for UAE Team Emirates, alongside Afonso Eulálio from Bahrain. This mix suggests a strategic selection, blending proven international experience with a rising star from the home front.
Notably absent from the team is João Almeida, also of UAE Team Emirates. Local sports outlet Record had reported this absence the day before the official announcement. Almeida is slated to prioritize the European Championships in October instead. Nelson Oliveira of Movistar is another key rider expected to compete at the Europeans, as he continues his recovery from injury. These strategic decisions highlight a careful balancing act by the national federation, aiming for strong performances across different major competitions.
National coach José Poeira explained the complexities behind the selections. He confirmed that Portugal will only send Elite and Under-23 riders to the African event. This difficult choice was made because two major championships are happening back-to-back, on different continents.
"This was one of the toughest call-ups in my career," Poeira stated. "Having two big championships so close, in different parts of the world, forced us to make very careful decisions. Like other national teams, we decided not to bring junior or women’s riders to the World Championship. This lets them be in top shape for the Europeans." He also highlighted the challenging conditions awaiting the riders in Rwanda. "The course in Rwanda will be exceptionally hard. We’re talking about altitude, humidity, and a total climb of 5,000 meters. It’s a huge challenge, but our team is motivated and fully focused on doing its best for Portugal."
The full list of riders called up for the World Championship is as follows:
Elite:
- Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain-Victorious)
- António Morgado (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
- Ivo Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
- Tiago Antunes (Efapel Cycling)
Under-23:
- Daniel Lima (Israel Premier Tech Academy)
- Daniel Moreira (Hagens Berman Jayco)
- Gabriel Baptista (Technosylva Maglia Bembibre)
- Lucas Lopes (Rádio Popular-Paredes-Boavista)
