1st CARLOS SILVA E SOUSA WOMEN'S PORTUGUESE CUP BROUGHT TOP CYCLISTS TO ALBUFEIRA
On Saturday, 21 March, a peloton made up of some of the sport's top female cyclists set off in the opening race of the Carlos Silva e Sousa Women's Road Portuguese Cup. More than one hundred athletes started from Albufeira Marina, tackling an 82-kilometre course that passed through the parishes of Ferreiras and Guia.
In the team standings, CDAS/Cyclin'Team/Municipality of Albufeira finished in fifth place. In the individual classifications, local riders also delivered strong performances: Sylvia Read was the standout, securing second place in the M40 category, while Raquel Ribeiro finished third in the Elite category. Notable top-five finishes also included Celina Carpinteiro (5th, Elite) and Lúcia Martins (5th, Under-17).
In the Elite category, Algarve rider Daniela Campos (Individual) claimed overall victory, beating Ana Caramelo (Matos Mobility-Flexaco-Ils) in a sprint finish. Raquel Ribeiro, representing Clube das Areias de São João (CDASJ/Cyclin'Team/Municipality of Albufeira), secured third place.
In the Under-23 race, Marta Carvalho (Cantabria Deporte – Rio Miera) crossed the finish line in first place, followed by Daniela Simão (Matos Mobility-Flexaco-Ils) in second and Carolina Galaviz (Maiatos Cycling Team) in third.
The Under-19 category covered a 67-kilometre route, with Ana Bueno (Maiatos Cycling Team) taking the win, ahead of Marta Esteves (Tensai/Sambiental/Santa Marta) and Eva Emídio (Atum General/Tavira/Madre Fruta) in second and third, respectively.
In the Under-17 race, Lara Lourenço (Penacova/Race Sprint Cycling Team) claimed victory, followed by her teammate Matilde Ferreira in second place, while Inês Fonseca (Triumtermica/Águias de Alpiarça) finished third.
In the women's Masters categories, Patrícia Rosa (Atum General/Tavira/Madre Fruta) won the M30 division, while her teammate Sónia Rodrigues took victory in M40. Marisa Costa (Korpo Activo/Penacova) won the M50 category, and Leontina Palhas (Team Vertentability – JDC) triumphed in M60.
In the team classification, Penacova/Race Spirit Cycling Team took first place, followed by Maiatos Cycling Team in second and Matos Mobility-Flexaco-Ils in third.
The event was attended by Albufeira's vice-president and councillor for sport, Jorge Carmo, who expressed his satisfaction at seeing the opening stage of the competition take place in the municipality.
"This is yet another landmark competition hosted in our municipality, which has established itself as a prime destination for cycling. In 2026, Albufeira holds the title of European City of Sport, and by the end of the year we will have hosted more than 400 sporting events," he noted.
The Carlos Silva e Sousa Women's Portuguese Cup is organised by the Algarve Cycling Association, Clube Desportivo Areias de São João, and the Municipality of Albufeira, in partnership with the Portuguese Cycling Federation. The competition is part of a calendar comprising a total of five races.