INTERVIEW: Last but by no means least, Bruno Silva proudly represents Portugal at European Championship - "We're leaving here with a clear conscience and our heads held high"

Portugal's Bruno Silva was one of those who took part in the 2024 Cyclocross European Championship in Pontevedra on Sunday afternoon. Although he finished dead last, 4:45 behind the winner, Thibau Nys, Silva was relatively happy with his experience, as he said in an exclusive interview with our reporter afterwards.

"I felt at home today," he confesses to our Portuguese sister channel Ciclismoatual, in what was his third experience racing outside Portuguese territory. "It was an incredible atmosphere, I have to apologize a lot to the Portuguese because I was unfortunate on the first lap and I paid dearly for my lack of experience in this type of race," he concludes, not forgetting to thank the Portuguese public for their support in Spain.

But what exactly happened on the first lap? "When I jumped the boards the chain jumped in front of me, these are racing situations. In the middle of the confusion I hit a pothole. Maybe it was my own problem due to nerves," admits the 26-year-old Portuguese, who nevertheless came out of the race satisfied to finish within a lap of the winner.

"We're last, but we're leaving here with a clear conscience and our heads held high!" And that's no wonder, given the obvious difference in level between national cyclocross and international cyclocross. Even so, a result like this doesn't discourage Bruno from repeating the experience, quite the opposite: "Hopefully in Portugal we'll raise this level after our participation, get more of our professionals to do this type of sport in Portugal and grow the sport to see if in a year or two or even in a few months at the World Championships we'll be there with more people and more category to compete with the best"

Bruno Silva thus becomes the first Portuguese to take part in a European Cyclocross Championship. A new milestone in Portuguese cycling and one that could open doors to a brighter future in this sport that is attracting more and more fans!