Portuguese cycling will lose one of its Continental teams next season. Tavfer-Ovos Matinados-Mortágua will not continue in 2027, bringing an end to a project that has been part of the Portuguese peloton for several years and had established itself as a regular presence at the country’s leading races. The team’s closure also draws a line under a story closely tied to the town of Mortágua and a family that kept the project alive after its founder’s death.
The Beira Alta team was founded by former sprinter Pedro Silva, who launched Velo Clube do Centro in his hometown to develop a structure that could offer opportunities to Portuguese riders. After his death in July 2021, his son Xavier Silva took charge of the project, with Gustavo Veloso leading the sports direction. Since then, the team has remained active and continued to compete in the country’s major races.
The news is particularly striking given the team’s performances in 2026. Tavfer-Ovos Matinados-Mortágua had regained prominence at the Volta a Portugal, returning to the top step of the podium and showing it could still challenge for major victories against teams with larger budgets. Its riders also added to the team’s tally of international wins, delivering results that seemed to support the future of a squad that had found its place in Portuguese cycling.
Those results, however, were not enough to secure the team’s survival. According to Portuguese outlet Top Cycling, which broke the news on 31.10, Tavfer-Ovos Matinados-Mortágua will leave the peloton in 2027. Most of its riders will need to find new teams to continue their professional careers, although some have already secured places elsewhere.
Leangel Linarez after finishing seventh at Portugal’s Gran Premio Jornal de Noticias
2026 victories cannot prevent the team’s closure
Leangel Linarez has been one of the season’s leading figures. The sprinter returned the team to the top step of the podium at the Volta a Portugal with a victory in Elvas, following a collective lead-out in which João Matias played a key role. The Portuguese rider’s work set Linarez up to cap a performance that brought the team back to winning ways in the biggest race on its calendar.
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The Venezuelan also added two stage wins at the Volta a Venezuela. Those three victories showcased the team’s competitive strength across different parts of the international calendar. Even so, its sporting results could not resolve the problems that ultimately led to the project’s closure. The situation once again highlights the financial challenges Continental teams face in trying to secure long-term stability.
The decision also directly affects a roster that still has several riders looking for teams for 2027. They include much of the squad that has worn Tavfer-Ovos Matinados-Mortágua’s colours this season. The team’s closure reduces the opportunities available to Portuguese riders and forces its members to seek alternatives in an increasingly competitive transfer market.
Rafael Barbas is among the few riders whose future is already settled, having signed for Caja Rural-Seguros RGA. The Portuguese rider was Tavfer-Ovos Matinados-Mortágua’s top finisher at the latest Volta a Portugal, placing 15th overall. His move to the Spanish team will allow him to continue competing at the highest level, while the rest of the squad must find new destinations. With its departure, Portuguese cycling loses a project born in Mortágua, which survived its founder’s death and still celebrated major victories in its final season.
Javier RampeCycling Journalist
Javier Rampe is a sports analyst with more than 15 years of experience. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Rome and a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Cádiz. Despite coming from an academic background not particularly associated with cycling, his passion for both cycling and journalism was instilled in him from an early age. He grew up following Miguel Indurain and José María “El Chava” Jiménez. An admirer of Michael Robinson’s communication style and journalistic approach, he was inspired to pursue a degree in Journalism at the University of Buenos Aires, which he is currently completing.
He has always maintained close ties with the worlds of sport and culture, contributing from a young age to sports blogs and film and music review websites. His work has appeared in media outlets such as Cope, RAI, and Radio Con Vos. He is also the founder of the cycling-focused podcast El Contraanálisis and the football interview channel Días De Fútbol, dedicated to conversations with professional footballers.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Javier has interviewed some of the most influential figures in modern cycling, including Alejandro Valverde and Tadej Pogačar, as well as key voices in anti-doping policy such as Alberto Yelmo, David Varillas, and Marcelo Milano. Marcos Maynar, in relation to the ‘Operación Ílex’ case, is also among the personalities he has interviewed. He enjoys conducting in-depth analysis of the cycling ecosystem and has attended major events such as Strade Bianche, the Vuelta a Andalucía, and Itzulia, as well as numerous national cyclo-cross races.
His background in economics, combined with extensive experience in marketing and corporate communications, drives his continuous study of positioning strategies and ensures that he always keeps his focus on crafting compelling and evocative headlines.
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