THE MISSION TO GIVE VOICE TO THE INTERIOR: 12TH GP O JOGO/LEILOSOC® KICKS OFF ON APRIL 25

The Emotion and the Festival of Cycling are back, this year with a special start, coinciding with the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution. The history of cycling has always been intertwined with the history of the interior, being an entertainment for the masses, even in the bygone years of the Estado Novo. To this day, according to local authorities in the interior, populations enjoy “receiving the cyclists” and the animation that the event brings to the regions.

Given this, and on such an important and symbolic date, the choice of the interior to kick off this notable race is not accidental. The objective is to give voice to the interior, as reminded by the current president of the Portuguese Cycling Federation, Delmino Pereira, cycling is a sport that represents “a moment of freedom”, and furthermore has an “above-average promotional capacity”, which is used to “promote the territory, having a deep connection with the populations of the interior”.

LEILOSOC® Worldwide's experience in supporting national cycling events in recent years has been enriching, prestigious, and a guarantee of proximity to our target audience.

The success of LEILOSOC®'s work, as a leading player in the business and financial market, is based on a professional and specialized structure that continuously pursues a commitment to quality, deeply rooted in the company's policy and customer/partner orientation.

We continuously assume a commitment of loyalty to our clients and partners, and it is with pride that we sponsor, once again, the O JOGO | LEILOSOC® Cycling Grand Prix, this year in its 12th edition.

The first pedal strokes of the 12th O JOGO/Leilosoc® Grand Prix, although symbolic, were given on April 17 in Mêda, where the race will begin, with João Mourato, president of the local Municipal Council, receiving local authorities and representatives from Trancoso, Vila Nova de Poiares, Barcelos, and Paredes, the remaining central points of a race that grows year after year, honoring its past of glories, and will have 4 stages this year, between April 25 and 28, totaling 565 km and about 14 hours of competition for the riders of the nine Portuguese professional teams and 6 club teams (sub-23), including the Spanish team from Zamora.

During the presentation event, it was a consensus among the attending Mayors that an event of this magnitude contributes to the affirmation and promotion of territories, sometimes forgotten, as well as encouraging young people to practice sports.

Already with 77 stages in its history and always fulfilling the mission to give voice to the interior, this newspaper's race, which launched the Volta a Portugal do Futuro in 1990, will give another boost to young cycling this year: on April 28, hours before the professionals' decision, Paredes will host the 1st O JOGO Junior Trophy.

Article by Isabel Meireles by LEILOSOC® dated April 19, 2024