The Portuguese team manager, José Poeira, told Lusa that he set the objectives for participation in the 56th Tour de l’Avenir, between 15 and 25 August with 10 stages of a very hardroute with a with very high mountain, a time trial by teams and fewer chances for sprinters.

Without João Almeida and André Carvalho, who will race for Hagens Berman Axeon, Portugal will be represented by Francisco Campos and Jorge Magalhães (W52-FC Porto), Gonçalo Carvalho (UC Monaco), Marcelo Salvador (Sicasal/Constantinos) and two young people in the first year of the class, Afonso Silva (Radio Popular-Boavista) and Guilherme Mota (Oliveirense-InOutBuild).

According to Poeira, the young Portuguese cyclists have the chance to start here working the future for other opportunities and can show themselves to foreign teams, with many already with experience in races of the Cup of Nations.

The goal is to try to win a stage and reach the top positions in general, as happened in 2018, when João Almeida finished in seventh place in a race in which Rui Oliveira was a regular bet on sprints.

The race kicks off with a sprint in Marmande, before the time trial by teams, on Friday, in Bergerac, followed by four days of an average mountain before rest, on 21 August.

The last four stages will continue to test the young cyclists, with the end scheduled for 25 August in Le Corbier, in a 78-kilometre high mountain stage.