Cyclist Joao Almeida stressed today in A dos Francos, where he was honored, the importance of investing in youth in order to have more national riders in international competitions.
“The most important thing is to invest in young people who will become the new cyclists of the future, in modern cycling, and prepare them well to have more and more of them abroad,” said Joao Almeida (UAE, Emirates).
The cyclist who finished third in the last Tour of Italy was honored today in A dos Francos, in the municipality of Caldas da Rainha, where the first edition of the João Almeida Prize is held, which involves 440 cyclists from 33 clubs from north to south countries.
“Already when I started, the main support was the parents, and this is an expensive sport,” he told the Lusa agency, defending “more support” so that clubs can form “more young people who are able to practice this modality.”
The 24-year-old, who returned to training today “after 10 days without a bike”, was received in A dos Francos by many hundreds of fans, who spent more than two hours signing autographs and photos before moving on. a stage where he was honored by the local parish council, Câmara das Caldas da Rainha, the Portuguese Cycling Federation and the Western Cycling Association.
“This is an example of perseverance for all of our youth,” said A dos Francos Parish Council President Paulo Souza, highlighting the presence of more than four hundred young people who competed for the João Almeida prize. , on a very rainy day when “conditions didn’t help”.
“For a young man he is and for all that he has done” a cyclist from A dos Francos received a tiled plaque from the parish council of A dos Francos depicting a monument already erected in the village. in his honor.
On behalf of Câmara das Caldas da Rainha, the runner, who achieved an unprecedented Giro podium for Portugal, also received a piece of century-old Bordalo Pinheiro pottery.
The ceremony also included assurances from the Portuguese Cycling Federation, the Parish Council and Camara das Caldas da Rainha that the João Almeida Prize would be repeated in the coming years.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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