INTERVIEW Nelson Oliveira | Experienced Portuguese arrives at his 22nd Grand Tour: "The atmosphere is incredible, and I’m just as motivated as ever"

Veteran Portuguese rider Nelson Oliveira is set to line up at the 2025 Tour de France, marking the 22nd Grand Tour of his illustrious career. Representing Movistar Team, the 35-year-old spoke to CiclismoAtual ahead of the Grand Départ in Lille.

For Oliveira, who hails from the Bairrada region of Portugal, the excitement of the Tour has never waned. "It’s another Tour de France — one of the biggest races in the world," he said. "It’s always special. The atmosphere is incredible, and I’m just as motivated as ever."

As the race begins in northern France, Oliveira has a clear role: supporting team leader Enric Mas during the crucial early stages. "Our main focus in these first days is to keep Enric well protected and in a good position in the bunch," he explained. "That’ll be my job."

Stage 1 is expected to feature strong crosswinds, raising the likelihood of echelons and splits in the peloton — something Oliveira is keenly aware of. "There are some exposed areas, not very long, but enough to cause breaks in the group," he noted. "There’s definitely going to be a lot of nervous energy, especially among the sprinters’ teams fighting for the stage."

Remarkably, Oliveira heads into his 22nd consecutive Grand Tour without a single DNF (Did Not Finish)—a record unmatched among current pro riders. "Yes, I’m aware of that," he said modestly. "But it’s not something I’ve ever aimed for. It’s just the result of years of consistent work, good preparation, and — most of all — not having bad luck in any of them," the experienced Portuguese adds in conclusion.

As he embarks on yet another Tour de France, Oliveira remains a symbol of reliability and professionalism in the peloton — a quiet force in service of the team and the race itself.