The twilight zone called Portugal.

[fmk_RoI]

Before his announcement, UCI had notified Amaro Antunes for changes registered in his biological passport.

Called it!

Sometimes the most obvious explanation really is the explanation.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Called it!

Sometimes the most obvious explanation really is the explanation.

This really isn't one that taxed the crystal ball much, though.

A lot of us were very upset by the Guarda show, Amaro was one of the few that we had some hopes for and thought from his junior/espoir times had some actual talent, but when he and Balarcón went on that raid, nobody had their eyes closed anymore.

 

[F_Cance]

https://twitter.com/inrng/status/1622638713485262850

official now

 

[TourOfSardinia]

official now

seems a bit vague

 

[Libertine Seguros]

seems a bit vague

It's probably just that that box is nothing like big enough to list all of W52's travelling pharmacy.

 

[PhiLiz]

No Porco fans now? Curious, I saw so much fan fare everytime the team they sponsored won something in the past years. Wonder if the official ban communications will also be in the museum right beside all the trophies...

The end of W52-Porco as a cycling team is, hopefully, only the beginning. The main "traficantes" (Nuno Gordeiro, Quinta na anilha and Hugo Veloso) are looking at some nice prison sentences (although it's far from certain they'll actually be jailed, the jail time may be suspended) and João "not good enough for WT" Rodrigues looks like he was the main supplier to the riders.

The beginning of the end is now over. Next chapters will be hilarious.

 

[PhiLiz]

Apanhado Antunes just lost his 2021 Volta a Portugal making Maurício Merdeira a two time winner now...

He also lost his stage win in Malhão in 2017 and his results in 2015 and 2016 at Volta a Portugal. It's kind of weird that his 2017 and 2020 wins remain, but I'd bet is just a matter of time.

I also think all Porco results from 2021 will be nullified (including Rodrigues win at Algarve) and wouldn't discard the same happening to every 2020 result.

Good times.

 

[BEE1885]

A big investigative article by the magazine Visao last month. Unfortunately hidden behind paywall. Anybody has the full text? Or if you've read it, is there anything new we haven't heard?

Visão | Investigação: A história do maior escândalo de doping em Portugal

A Operação Prova Limpa desvendou os bastidores do doping no ciclismo português: transfusões de sangue, hormonas de crescimento, insulina, anfetaminas e até suplementos para cavalos. Competição entre atletas, provas exigentes e precariedade laboral podem explicar o recurso às substâncias proibidas

visao.sapo.pt

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Visão | Investigação: A história do maior escândalo de doping em Portugal

A Operação Prova Limpa desvendou os bastidores do doping no ciclismo português: transfusões de sangue, hormonas de crescimento, insulina, anfetaminas e até suplementos para cavalos. Competição entre atletas, provas exigentes e precariedade laboral podem explicar o recurso às substâncias proibidas

www.pixelcut.site

 

[Rico044]

Very interested in the full article if anyone has it!

 

[Rob5091]

25 year ban - now that's hefty, but then again he was the Jack Parsons of Portuguese rocketry.
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...ear-ban-following-countless-doping-violations

Nuno Ribeiro is one of the figures in cycling who has been connected to the word doping the most. Now, he has been attribted a 25-year ban due to his repeated violations and large-scale development of a rule-breaking system within the former W52-FC Porto team.

 

[pastronef]

Portuguese team, continental, no need for the bio-passport if I'm not mistaken? portoguese calendar, not as many test in quality and quantity as a WT team. portuguese calendar, no fear of crossing borders with PEDs in the cars. closed environment, no spotlights. I mean it's not like a WT team got found with all that stuff.

 

[zlev11]

A big investigative article by the magazine Visao last month. Unfortunately hidden behind paywall. Anybody has the full text? Or if you've read it, is there anything new we haven't heard?

Visão | Investigação: A história do maior escândalo de doping em Portugal

A Operação Prova Limpa desvendou os bastidores do doping no ciclismo português: transfusões de sangue, hormonas de crescimento, insulina, anfetaminas e até suplementos para cavalos. Competição entre atletas, provas exigentes e precariedade laboral podem explicar o recurso às substâncias proibidas

visao.sapo.pt

still interested if anyone has access to the full contents of this article. i actually signed up and paid for that site months ago and still couldn't access the article.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Portuguese team, continental, no need for the bio-passport if I'm not mistaken? portoguese calendar, not as many test in quality and quantity as a WT team. portuguese calendar, no fear of crossing borders with PEDs in the cars. closed environment, no spotlights. I mean it's not like a WT team got found with all that stuff.

There is some skeletal biopassport compliance in Portugal, people like Sérgio Ribeiro and Antônio Amorim got suspended on it.

 

[Rob5091]

Somebody was not happy about the "Prova limpa"
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/po...nuno-ribeiro-given-25-year-doping-suspension/
"the Portuguese Anti-Doping Authority director revealed he was living under police surveillance after receiving numerous threats, including a shotgun cartridge in the post."
And then Portugal’s socialist prime minister, António Costa resigned! Wow! But that had nothing to do with Ribeiro.

 

[carolina]

Portuguese team, continental, no need for the bio-passport if I'm not mistaken? portoguese calendar, not as many test in quality and quantity as a WT team. portuguese calendar, no fear of crossing borders with PEDs in the cars. closed environment, no spotlights. I mean it's not like a WT team got found with all that stuff.

Last year the portuguese federation changed the rules to register the riders. All riders must have the biopassport.

 

[Rob5091]

So what are these guys going to do for next 25 years? Work at the local chemists? With all their knowledge, someone will hire them as "consultants" surely?

 

[carolina]

Ribeiro owns a bike store, I think.

 

[josephews]

I read about the Volta ao Algarve 2024 which was held in February 14-18, 2024 was also their milestone 50th edition. I was hoping to watch next year’s event, does anyone have an idea of the dates for next year’s edition in Portugal? I am still in my early stages of planning, so I can still change the dates of my travel to coincide with the event. I am most probably traveling solo to Portugal next year, and stumbled upon this great resource https://gowithguide.com/blog/tourism-in-portugal-statistics-2023-the-ultimate-guide-5600 but if anyone can recommend some private tour that could give me a better experience with watching the event, I’m open to suggestions.

 

[carolina]

Volta ao Algarve is always around those dates. On the previous weekend you also have Figueira Champions Classic in Figueira da Foz. Both events have an amateaur race, usually held on a sunday.

If you're looking for cycling related tours, I'd suggest reaching out to some local bike shops in Algarve. I think G-Ride (https://www.g-ridebike.com/) might be able to help you with that.

 

[josephews]

Volta ao Algarve is always around those dates. On the previous weekend you also have Figueira Champions Classic in Figueira da Foz. Both events have an amateaur race, usually held on a sunday.

If you're looking for cycling related tours, I'd suggest reaching out to some local bike shops in Algarve. I think G-Ride (https://www.g-ridebike.com/) might be able to help you with that.

That's great information, thank you for sharing! I'll definitely look into the Figueira Champions Classic as well. I'll reach out to G-Ride for some cycling tour options, appreciate the recommendation @carolina!