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.

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.