EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW - Nelson Oliveira riding home roads at Figueira Champions Classic: "I'll have the duty of helping the leaders as best I can"

Nelson Oliveira is one of the most reliable and regular riders in the peloton over the last decade, with two grand tours a season since 2019 and an incredible 0 abandonments in 3-week races. In his 10th season with Movistar Team, the Portuguese rider will make his debut at the Figueira Champions Classic, which takes place next Sunday. He has taken the time to talk to CiclismoAtual and CyclingUpToDate.

In an exclusive interview with our Portuguese sister channel CiclismoAtual, Oliveira was very happy to be at the start line in Figueira da Foz, near his hometown of Anadia: "It will be my debut in this classic, which for me will certainly be a mixture of emotions, between family and friends and these people who always welcome us with open arms. I hope it will be a beautiful day for everyone."

He also spoke about the course, which will be 192km long and will have a very tough final circuit, with 3 passes, and a total of 6 climbs, "The course is very winding, which will make it a very tough race, then with the last 3 laps on the final circuit it will be decisive as it has been in previous years". His mission in this classic will essentially be to work for the team leaders, namely Ruben Guerreiro, "as far as the result is concerned, I'm not coming with any great personal expectations, I'll have the duty of helping the leaders as best I can". In addition to the two Portuguese riders, Movistar will line up Jefferson Cepeda, Antonio Pedrero, Diego Pescador and Natnael Tesfatsion in the Portuguese classic.

Nelson Oliveira also commented on the team's excellent start to the season, with 3 victories and a very offensive attitude from the cyclists "I've been looking at it with good eyes and joy. The team is motivated and these results make us want to continue the work we've done so far." Nelson himself has already made his debut in 2025, in the Tour of the Valencian Community, where he was called up at the last minute, but ended up contributing to Ivan Romeo's stage win: "It was a race that wasn't planned for me, I didn't go with the ideal physical condition, but I ended up doing a good job for the team."

His schedule for the rest of the season is not yet official, "After Figueira, I'll go to the Gran Camiño in Galicia", but according to the procyclingstats website, he is scheduled to take part in the Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, Itzulia Basque Country, Tour de Romandie, Criterium du Dauphiné and Tour de France.