A Season of Breakthroughs

A Season of Breakthroughs for APHotels & Resorts-Tavira-SC Farense

The Portuguese Continental squad, APHotels Resorts-Tavira-SC Farense, entered 2025 with renewed ambition and a fresh partnership with Handsling Bikes. Their campaign was marked by three victories at the Volta ao Alentejo and the GP Internacional Torres Vedras–Troféu Joaquim Agostinho. And their brave performance at the Volta a Portugal after a last-minute invite showed their potential.

Rising star Jesús David Peña proved to be the team’s talisman. Peña finished 4th overall at the Volta a Portugal, just +2:24 behind race winner Artem Nych after running 3rd for much of the race. Peña was a constant presence in the mountain stages, often attacking in breakaways and cementing his reputation as Tavira’s GC leader. On top of his Volta performance David took two stage wins and finished 2nd overall at the Grande Prémio Internacional Beiras e Serra da Estrela.

The team’s consistency was reflected in their 243 PCS points and a top‑100 UCI ranking, cementing their place among Europe’s most competitive Continental outfits.

In addition to their UCI‑registered victories, APHotels & Resorts-Tavira-SC Farense’s riders made their mark in Portugal’s vibrant domestic scene in 2025. They collected wins and podiums in national‑level races, criteriums, and regional classics. These results, while not always reflected in UCI points, were crucial for team visibility and rider development.

Rider Highlights

Jesús David Peña: The Colombian climber was the team’s standout performer. Beyond his UCI stage wins, Peña dominated several Portuguese regional hill‑climb events, including the Subida à Senhora da Graça Challenge, where he set a new course record. He also placed top‑3 in the Clássica da Primavera (non‑UCI edition), showing his versatility on rolling terrain.

Afonso Silva: Silva’s sprinting power shone in criteriums and kermesse‑style races. He won the Circuito de Tavira and the Prova Comemorativa de Faro, both non‑UCI but highly regarded in the Algarve cycling community. His consistency in local one‑day races made him a crowd favorite.

Francisco Campos: Known for his aggressive racing style, Campos picked up podiums in the Clássica de Setúbal and the Prova de Anadia. He also served as a key lead‑out man in criteriums, helping Silva secure multiple sprint wins.

Delio Fernández: The veteran Spaniard, in his final professional season, focused on mentoring younger riders but still managed a victory in the Gran Premio de Olhão (non‑UCI). His tactical nous was evident in smaller stage races, where he often animated breakaways.

Diogo Pinto: At just 19, Pinto impressed in under‑23 and mixed‑field events. He won the Campeonato Regional do Algarve Sub‑23 and placed 2nd in the Prova da Juventude de Lisboa. His development trajectory suggests he could be the team’s next GC leader.

Miguel Salgueiro: Salgueiro thrived in endurance‑based events, taking top‑5 finishes in the Volta às Terras do Sado and the Clássica de Évora. His steady climbing ability made him a reliable domestique in both UCI and non‑UCI competitions.

José Bicho: The young Portuguese rider gained valuable experience in criteriums and regional races, often finishing in the top‑10. His highlight was a 4th place in the Circuito de Portimão, where he showed promise as a future classics specialist.

Looking Ahead

With a mix of seasoned pros like Delio Fernández and rising talents such as Diogo Pinto, Tavira look set to build on their 2025 momentum. The combination of smart race tactics and our Handsling bikes has us buzzing for even bigger wins in the seasons ahead. For us at Handsling, this partnership isn’t just about logos on jerseys, it’s proof that our bikes can handle the toughest demands of pro racing.

Handsling Bikes in Action

The team rolled out on the Handsling A1R0evoS and TSTRevo this year, both are UCI‑approved and designed in‑house with our racing know‑how. These frames are light, aero, and tough enough to take whatever the riders threw at them. From brutal climbs to sketchy descents, the bikes gave Tavira that extra edge when it mattered most.