The cyclist Tiago Machado was recognised yesterday in Famalicão for the excellence of his sporting career. The Famalicão Sports Gala consecrated the 37-year-old athlete with the 'Excellence Award', in a gala in which the Chess Club of A2D - Associação Académica da Didáxis checkmate the competition in the race for the 'Sporting Event of the Year' and the Rosa Oliveira Athletics School crossed the finish line in first place as 'Sports Association/Club of the Year'.
The 7th edition of the Sports Gala, organised by the Municipality of Famalicão, through the Pelouro do Desporto, took place yesterday at the Municipal Pavilion, in a ceremony in which more than two hundred athletes, managers, technicians, clubs and famalicense sports associations were distinguished with the Famalicense d'Ouro award, for the titles of national and international champions achieved in different sports.
"Fight for your dreams, always believe, because, in sport, it is to fall seven times and take eight" was the message that the winner of the 'Excellence Award' left to the younger generations. Tiago Machado, also mentioned the importance of the marital support for his numerous sporting achievements, which allowed him to "give the pedals (…) the only thing I knew how to do well".
The 37-year-old cyclist started his professional career in 2005 in the Boavista Futebol Clube team, and in 2009, he made the great leap to a World Tour team, Team RadioShack, where he began to compete with some of the biggest names in world cycling. A cross-country rider par excellence, he became national champion in 2009. He has participated in important international races such as the Tour de France, the 'Vuelta a España' and the 'Giro d'Italia'. His greatest achievement came in 2014 with Team NetApp-Endura, where he won the Tour of Slovenia. He continued his career with team Katusha and returned to the national peloton in 2018, representing Sporting Clube de Portugal. He has now been in the service of Boavista Futebol Clube for two years.
"This award will lift us to a new level", said Mário Oliveira, winner of the 'Manager of the Year' award and responsible for the A2D Chess Club - Didáxis Academic Association, the entity that organises the City of Famalicão 2022 International Tournament, which was elected winner in the 'Sports Event of the Year' category by public vote.
The Municipal Pavilion once again hosted the Famalicão Sports Gala, in the usual manner, after two years of interregnum due to the pandemic, in a ceremony where the jury awards in the categories 'Sports Association/Club of the Year' were also given to the Rosa Oliveira Athletics School (EARO), Coach of the Year' to the duo Sérgio Costa and Rita Almeida, from Gindança Academy, 'Female Athlete of the Year' to Ana Marinho from EARO, 'Male Athlete of the Year' to Tomás Araújo from Sport Lisboa e Benfica, and 'Referee of the Year' to João Pinheiro from Núcleo de Árbitros de Futebol de Famalicão.
In his speech, the Mayor, Mário Passos, said that this ceremony represents the "celebration of sporting success". "The sport has brought notoriety and prestige to Famalicão (...) it is thanks to the dedication and effort of athletes, managers, technical teams and their families and friends, that we have been able to take the name of Famalicão further, to international levels of excellence", stressed the mayor.
The Mayor took the opportunity to inform the intention of advancing "once and for all" with the construction of the athletics track, estimating to start "still this year, with the process of public tender". He also referred that the City Hall is developing all the formal steps to materialize the Skate Park, as well as reinforce the Municipal Swimming pools with 50 meters lanes and rehabilitate the Municipal Stadium.