SL Benfica (cycling team)
Encyclopedia
Sport Lisboa e Benfica was a cycling
team of the multisports club Sport Lisboa e Benfica, from Lisbon
, Portugal
.
was the second sports department established within Sport Lisboa e Benfica, and along with football, is one of only two sports referenced in the club logo. The sport was in activity from 1906 to 1941, 1947 to 1978, 1999 to 2000, and once again for two seasons in 2007 and 2008.
In 1931 the Portuguese cycling legend José Maria Nicolau won the Volta a Portugal
and helped Benfica to win the Volta as a team. Benfica won the Volta once again in 1932. In 1934, Benfica won the Volta for the third time with Nicolau being the overall winner, beating his rival Alfredo Trindade from Sporting Lisbon.
After some years without success, Benfica won another Volta as a team in 1939. The benfiquistas had to wait until 1947 (due to the end of the cycling section in 1941) to see once again one of their cyclists winning the Volta. It was José Martins, who also helped Benfica to win the Volta as a team.
In 1963, after a period of FC Porto's dominance, Benfica won its sixth Volta a Portugal, but had to wait two more years to see a Benfica cyclist winning the Volta. It was Peixoto Alves, who was succeeded by Francisco Valada one year later and another team win.
In 1968 Américo Silva won the Volta, but Benfica failed to win it as a team.
That happened in 1974, when Benfica won its eighth Volta (and due to the cycling section's end in 1978 the last one for a long time) and its cyclist Fernando Mendes
the seventh individual Volta for a Benfica cyclist. Two years later, in 1976, Firmino Bernardino won the last Volta for Benfica before its end in 1978.
It was the Spanish cyclist David Plaza
, the first foreigner to win a Volta for Benfica, who won the last individual Volta for Benfica in 1999. It was the same year that Benfica won its ninth and so far last Volta a Portugal. Another Spanish Benfica cyclist, Melcior Mauri, won the Volta ao Algarve
In 2007, the newly created Benfica cycling team around superstar José Azevedo
won the Tour du Luxembourg. In 2008, Ruben Plaza
won the Vuelta a Valencia.
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
team of the multisports club Sport Lisboa e Benfica, from Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
History
CyclingCycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
was the second sports department established within Sport Lisboa e Benfica, and along with football, is one of only two sports referenced in the club logo. The sport was in activity from 1906 to 1941, 1947 to 1978, 1999 to 2000, and once again for two seasons in 2007 and 2008.
In 1931 the Portuguese cycling legend José Maria Nicolau won the Volta a Portugal
Volta a Portugal
The Volta a Portugal em bicicleta is a long distance road bicycle race for professionals held in Portugal. The competition takes place annually during a two-week span.- History :...
and helped Benfica to win the Volta as a team. Benfica won the Volta once again in 1932. In 1934, Benfica won the Volta for the third time with Nicolau being the overall winner, beating his rival Alfredo Trindade from Sporting Lisbon.
After some years without success, Benfica won another Volta as a team in 1939. The benfiquistas had to wait until 1947 (due to the end of the cycling section in 1941) to see once again one of their cyclists winning the Volta. It was José Martins, who also helped Benfica to win the Volta as a team.
In 1963, after a period of FC Porto's dominance, Benfica won its sixth Volta a Portugal, but had to wait two more years to see a Benfica cyclist winning the Volta. It was Peixoto Alves, who was succeeded by Francisco Valada one year later and another team win.
In 1968 Américo Silva won the Volta, but Benfica failed to win it as a team.
That happened in 1974, when Benfica won its eighth Volta (and due to the cycling section's end in 1978 the last one for a long time) and its cyclist Fernando Mendes
Fernando Mendes
Fernando Mamede Mendes is a retired Portuguese football midfielder and manager.-Football career:During his entire professional career, which lasted 13 seasons , Mendes played solely for Sporting Clube de Portugal, also starting and finishing his football formation at the Lisbon club.He played for...
the seventh individual Volta for a Benfica cyclist. Two years later, in 1976, Firmino Bernardino won the last Volta for Benfica before its end in 1978.
It was the Spanish cyclist David Plaza
David Plaza
David Plaza Romero is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer.- Palmarès :1991199419992000...
, the first foreigner to win a Volta for Benfica, who won the last individual Volta for Benfica in 1999. It was the same year that Benfica won its ninth and so far last Volta a Portugal. Another Spanish Benfica cyclist, Melcior Mauri, won the Volta ao Algarve
Volta ao Algarve
The Volta ao Algarve is a road bicycle racing stage race held annually in the Algarve, Portugal. Since 2005, it has been organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. Due to its early February position in the European calendar, it is used by many riders to prepare for the Spring...
In 2007, the newly created Benfica cycling team around superstar José Azevedo
José Azevedo
José Bento Azevedo Carvalho is a Portuguese former professional road racing cyclist. As of 2010, he is also a team manager with Team RadioShack...
won the Tour du Luxembourg. In 2008, Ruben Plaza
Rubén Plaza
Rubén Plaza Molina is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for . He turned professional in 2001 with , before moving to Comunidad Valenciana...
won the Vuelta a Valencia.
Titles
-
- Domestic-Team;
- 9 Volta a PortugalVolta a PortugalThe Volta a Portugal em bicicleta is a long distance road bicycle race for professionals held in Portugal. The competition takes place annually during a two-week span.- History :...
: 1931, 1932, 1934, 1939, 1947, 1963, 1966, 1974, 1999
-
- International UCI Tours Winners-Team;
- 1 Tour du Luxembourg UCI-EuropeTour: 2007
- 1 Clásica Internacional de Alcobendas UCI-EuropeTour: 2008
-
- International UCI Stages Winners-Team;
- Volta ao Luxemburgo UCI-EuropeTour; 2007- 1
- Troféu Joaquim Agostinho UCI-EuropeTour; 2007- 1
- Volta ao Alentejo UCI-EuropeTour; 1
- Grande Prémio Internacional CTT Correios UCI-EuropeTour; 1
- Grande Prémio Rota dos Móveis UCI-EuropeTour; 1
- Clásica Internacional de Alcobendas y Villalba UCI-EuropeTour; 2008
-
- International UCI Tours Winners-Individual;
- 1 Volta à Comunidade Valenciana UCI Europe Tour
Notable cyclists
- José Maria Nicolau
- José Martins
- Peixoto Alves
- Francisco Valada
- Américo Silva
- Fernando Mendes
- Firmino Bernardino
- David PlazaDavid PlazaDavid Plaza Romero is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer.- Palmarès :1991199419992000...
- Melcior Mauri
- Ruben PlazaRubén PlazaRubén Plaza Molina is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for . He turned professional in 2001 with , before moving to Comunidad Valenciana...
- José AzevedoJosé AzevedoJosé Bento Azevedo Carvalho is a Portuguese former professional road racing cyclist. As of 2010, he is also a team manager with Team RadioShack...
- Cândido BarbosaCândido BarbosaCândido Barbosa was a professional road racing cyclist from 1996 to 2011, year where he decided to end his career as a professional road racing cyclist due to a serious lesion on both of his knees.- Results :...