Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro kicked off the 87th Volta a Portugal cycling race in Lisbon on Wednesday as 119 cyclists began competing.
The competition runs until August 16 and will finish in Porto after riders complete nearly 1,500 kilometers. The event opened with a 6.5-kilometer prologue in the capital city.
Montenegro cut the tape at the start line to signal the beginning of the race. He was accompanied by Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas, Portuguese Cycling Federation President Cândido Barbosa, and the president of the Portuguese Olympic Committee.
Government sports strategy and national promotion
In a statement without answering questions from journalists, Montenegro highlighted the race as an iconic event in Portuguese sports that will celebrate 100 years since its first edition next year. He said the event serves as a source of unity and mobilization across all territories for residents, emigrants, and visiting tourists.
Montenegro described this edition as special because the Portuguese Cycling Federation has returned as the event organizer. He noted that the route passes through 15 districts and more than 70 municipalities, extending from the coast to the interior and from the north to the south of the country to promote local landscapes and natural heritage.
The prime minister defended government choices for sports, stating that his administration presented the country's first national sports development plan to support sports entities, clubs, athletes, and families. He added that the country broke recent records for the number of federated athletes last year.
Olympic champion debut and unanswered questions
During the event, Montenegro followed the race of Portuguese cyclist Rui Oliveira by car. Oliveira, making his debut in the Volta a Portugal, won an Olympic gold medal in the track cycling madison event at the Paris 2024 Games alongside Iúri Leitão. Montenegro said he recalled that title with Oliveira, calling the victory two years ago unexpected, motivating, and inspiring for the country.
At the end of his statement, journalists attempted to question Montenegro about a preventive investigation by the European Public Prosecutor's Office into contracts between the Judicial Police and a Barcelos construction company signed while Luís Neves was national director. Montenegro declined to answer and passed the floor to the cycling federation president.
Federation funding and opening stage winner
Cândido Barbosa thanked the government for reinforcing federation funding and supporting renovation work at the national velodrome in Sangalhos. He called on all Portuguese people to follow the race and support the athletes and their families, describing the riders as the true champions of the event.
Danish cyclist Julius Johansen won the opening prologue in Lisbon, becoming the first race leader of this 87th edition.
