Cycling
The Algarve’s Daniela Campos has double the reason to celebrate following the Portuguese National Road Championships. After retaining her time-trial title by seven seconds, she went on to out-sprint the field in the women’s elite race.
The 87-kilometre course was closely-fought with a compact peloton, but Campos led them over the line with a one-second victory. Afterwards, she commented, “It’s great to win these two titles. After so many mishaps since the beginning of the season, I feel I really deserve this as it’s a reward for all my effort.”
Main photo © www.facebook.com/JoaoFonsecaPhotographer
Football
Portimonense will begin their Primeira Liga campaign with a home game against Boavista. The side from Portimão start their season on 7 August and will hope to build on their mid-table finish of last term. In the Liga Pro, S.C Farense (Faro) will also start proceedings with a home game as they face newly promoted Torreense. They will also look to improve on their mid-table finish last season.
Moncarapachense (from the tiny town of Moncarapacho) will play in Liga 3 after a fifty-year absence. After last season’s historic promotion, the Algarve side will face some stern tests against quality opposition, such as Sporting B and Belenenses. They will play their home matches in the nearby town of Olhãoas their own stadium does not meet national league requirements.
Rugby
Portugal 31-Italy 38. Portugal and Italy played out a thrilling match at the Estádio do Restelo in Lisbon. In a free-flowing game, both teams produced some excellent rugby that would have pleased their respective coaches. Portugal very much held their own against the Six-Nations side and led for much of the match, but two late tries finally broke their resistance giving Italy a barely deserved victory.
Portugal 35-52 Argentina XV. Despite another high-scoring game, Portugal were beaten by an Argentina XV that always seemed to be able to go up a gear when required. The home side actually led 25-21 at halftime, but they were outmuscled and outclassed in the second half. Despite two July defeats, the ‘Wolves’ will take away a lot of positives, which should bode well for their world cup play-off in the Autumn.
Sailing
The Alinghi Red Bull racing team have won the second leg of the GC32 series. The Lagos Cup commenced on 23rd June.
With flat seas and gusts of up to 27 knots, conditions were ideal for foil sailing and the pre-race favourites showed their class with a comfortable victory. The crew were victorious in six of the sixteen races held over four days. Alinghi and Red Bull were in direct competition with each other, but have since joined forces in order to challenge for the esteemed America’s Cup event in Barcelona in 2024.
Kayaking
The Castores do Arade Kayak Club have participated in the National Championship of Speed in Montemor-o-Velho, near Coimbra. The Lagoa-based club took twenty-two athletes, from juniors to masters, racing at 200 metre, 500 metre and 1000 metre distances. It proved to be a successful championship with five national champions, six second places and a total of fourteen podiums. Overall, the club finished in a respectable 8th position with 992 points.
Football
In July, the Algarve Football Association held a training session for Ukrainian children at the Penha sporting complex in Faro. An AFA statement said that the initiative was designed to support refugees and offer integration into the various sectors of the region, including sports, namely through regular physical activity.
Sport of the month: Road Cycling
Are you looking to become more active and take part in some physical activity? Here is your chance. Each month we profile a sport you can participate in (or watch) right here in The Algarve. This month we look at road cycling:
The Algarve offers the perfect setting for both amateur and professional cyclists. The combination of a diverse topography and a splendid climate ensures that cyclists of all skill levels will not be disappointed. There are a plethora of cycle hire companies across the region that either rent individual bicycles or provide bike tours.
Amateur cyclists might be interested in undertaking part of the 214km Ecovia do Literal cycle route that runs from Cabo de São Vincent in the west to Vila Real de Santo Antonio in the east.
If you wish to publicise a sport, please contact our sports editor David Lugg: david@tomorrowalgarve.com
