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Alves Bandeira returns to sponsor the Figueira Champions Classic cycling race

2024-03-14

The 2024 edition of the Figueira Champions Classic, sponsored by the Alves Bandeira brand as the official energy sponsor, once again featured some of the world's best cyclists. Notable Portuguese participants included João Almeida, António Morgado, and Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates), Rui Costa (EF Education-EasyPost), and Rúben Guerreiro (Movistar). Other prominent contenders for victory included Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick-Step), Mikel Landa (Soudal – Quick Step), and Andrea Bagioli (Lidl – Trek).

In a region where the Alves Bandeira brand enjoys high visibility and operates a total of 6 fuel stations, the race began in the city of Figueira da Foz, covering a total of 14 parishes along a 221-kilometer route.

From the outset, it was clear that the cyclists would face a series of demanding challenges, not only due to steep climbs and dizzying descents but also because each turn and straight stretch of the course required high concentration and technical skill. Additionally, the weather conditions throughout the day added an extra layer of complexity, with strong winds and sudden changes in weather, challenging competitors to quickly adapt to the circumstances and demonstrate their high level of endurance and determination.

At the end of the 221 kilometers, divided into four laps, the overall winner was Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step), who claimed victory in the second edition of the Figueira Classic by arriving solo after launching an attack over 50 kilometers from the finish line. Evenepoel, the current world time trial champion, crossed the finish line after 04:42.25 hours, ahead of his compatriot Vito Braet (Intermarché-Wanty) and Italian Simone Velasco (Astana), who finished second and third, respectively.

Remco succeeds Danish rider Casper Pedersen, also from Soudal Quick-Step, who won the inaugural edition of the race last year. This season, the race was promoted to the UCI ProSeries category, the second most important on the international calendar.

A total of 160 riders from 23 teams participated in the race, five more teams than in the 2023 edition, including 10 World Tour teams, 4 ProTeams, and 9 Portuguese continental teams.

Alves Bandeira returns to sponsor the Figueira Champions Classic cycling race

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