The twilight zone called Portugal.

[Krzysztof_O]

Supposedly the best climber in the world (Teddy) chickens out every year and avoids facing real men in Volta Portugal.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Unable to train properly without dopey dope.

Is the Volta almost normal now?

It's more that August got normalised in July, so August doesn't look as Augusty anymore.

 

[Rob5091]

Doping in Portugal? I'm shocked!
https://velo.outsideonline.com/news...-days-after-double-blood-passport-violations/

Portuguese squad APHotels & Resorts-Tavira–SC Farense is suspended for 20 days after two of its riders were flagged for anti-doping violations linked to irregularities in their biological passports.
The case involves Venceslau Fernandes, notified in November 2024 by Portugal’s anti-doping agency of abnormal blood values dating to 2023, and Delio Fernández Cruz, who was informed by the UCI in July 2025 of similar anomalies, also from 2023.


Neither rider has been formally sanctioned, but under the rules, the third-tier team is sidelined after the expert panel concluded both anomalies overlapped within a 12-month timeframe.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Doping in Portugal? I'm shocked!
https://velo.outsideonline.com/news...-days-after-double-blood-passport-violations/

The only surprising thing about Fernández is that he already announced his retirement in April, but I guess he and other members of the team may have been holding their breaths after Fernandes was notified back in November.

 

[RedheadDane]

Doping in Portugal? I'm shocked!
https://velo.outsideonline.com/news...-days-after-double-blood-passport-violations/

Wait... hold on... it's 20?
Oh, NOES! However shall they recover from that?

 

[primoz]

,,...the third-division team will be unable to race between 23 October to 11 November 2025...''

So effectively they won't miss a single day of racing.

 

[Tim Cahill]

,,...the third-division team will be unable to race between 23 October to 11 November 2025...''

So effectively they won't miss a single day of racing.

UCI masterclass

 

[carolina]

Prison sentence for both Nuno Ribeiro (DS) and Adriano Quintanilha (owner) of W52- F.C.Porto. 4 years and 9 months!

Sentença inédita por doping custa prisão efetiva a patrão e diretor da W52-F.C. Porto

Equipa de ciclismo dominou modalidade à custa de plano criminoso de Adriano Quintanilha e Nuno Ribeiro.

www.jn.pt

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Antonio Carvalho banned for 4 years

UCI statement concerning António Carvalho Ferreira

www.uci.org

 

[Rob5091]

The ABP's recent run of catching guys carries on. Not surprisingly in Portugal -
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...d-heavy-bans-due-to-unexplained-abnormalities

The Portuguese Anti-Doping Authority (ADoP) has confirmed lengthy suspensions for two experienced Portuguese riders, further deepening the scrutiny on the domestic peloton. Venceslau Fernandes has been handed a six-year ban, while Rafael Silva has received a four-year sanction, adding to a growing list of biological passport cases in the region.

Fernandes’ six-year suspension stems from "unexplained abnormalities" in his Athlete Biological Passport. “On 7 November 2024, the Portuguese rider Venceslau Fernandes was notified by the National Anti-Doping Agency of Portugal (ADoP) of an ADRV, due to unexplained abnormalities in his ABP in 2023," the ADoP statement says.

Rafael Silva’s four-year ban confirms the circumstances surrounding his sudden retirement earlier this year. The rider announced he was hanging up his wheels on January 28, 2024, immediately after being notified by ADoP regarding adverse findings.