Gabriel Baptista and Gonçalo Amaral, two Portuguese under-23 cyclists, transferred to the Spanish team Technosylva Rower Bembibre, after not finding available club projects in Portugal. The two young riders identified in Spain the opportunity to continue their progression in cycling.
The athletes come from the teams Barcelense and Famalicense respectively. The transition to the Spanish club represents for both a continuation of sporting development that they would not have in national territory.
The officials from the two Portuguese teams identify a structural flaw in national cycling. In Portugal, cyclists who leave the junior category face a scarcity of under-23 projects, being frequently forced to jump directly to professional teams without the usual transition at this age group.
Gabriel Baptista recommends that other young Portuguese cyclists consider the possibility of transferring abroad. The lack of opportunities in Portugal leads under-23 talents to look for alternatives outside the country in order to continue evolving in the sport.
