A year after the last edition, the Cross International of Almondeiras in Flor is back on the track of the Açotias, in Albufeira. Organized by the Algarve Athletics Association and the Albufeira City Council, in partnership with the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth and the Algarve Tourism Region, and with the institutional support of the Portuguese Athletics Federation, the proof is one of the largest events Sports of the region and attracts world -renowned athletes.
The press conference of presentation of the 48th edition took place this Monday, in the Noble Hall of Paços do Municipality, with the participation of organizing entities.
The mayor of Albufeira, José Carlos Rolo, highlighted the importance of the event for the notoriety of the city and the Algarve. “It has contributed to raise the good name of Portugal, Algarve and Albufeira beyond borders,” he said. He also thanked the organizing entities and reinforced “the importance of dynamizing and strengthening partnerships with experts from various modalities, essential to achieve success and live up to the epithet ‘Albufeira Capital do Sport’”.
The 48th edition of the Cross International Flor’s Almond Treasters is part of the European Champion Clubs Cup, with evidence for seniors and under-20, male and female, as well as the mixed relay. The competition, which honors the almond trees in Flor, one of the icons of winter tourism in the Algarve, is part of the most prestigious European competition of Cut Clubs, the European Cross Country Championships (ECCC).
A proof of international prestige
The president of the Algarve Athletics Association (AAALG), Francisco Chumbinho, recalled that this is the “only national cross that is inserted in the international circuit of the World Athletics and punctuates for the world ranking”. The leader revealed that a “candidacy is already underway in 2026, again to hold the European Champion Clubs Cup in Albufeira”.
The director of the competition, Rui Costa, stressed that Cross International of the almond trees in Flor is the fifth oldest in Europe, integrating the Gold level of World Athletics. Created in 1977, this event also hosts the European Champion Clubs Cup, which now reaches its 63rd edition, being played at the Açoteias track for thirteen consecutive years.
In turn, IPDJ regional director Custódio Moreno praised “Albufeira’s view by investing in an athletics track that is currently the scene of international athletics”. He also highlighted “the importance of the” Sport and Tourism “binomial, which attracts thousands of people to the region, noting that athletics has been the modality that has given the most titles to Portugal.”
Confirmed elite athletes
The competition will feature more than 450 athletes from 68 European clubs and top names of world athletics. In men, the presence of Thierry DkumWenayo (ESP), Rodrigue Kiwzera (Bur) and Oscar Chelimo (UGA), while in the female sector, Likina Amebaw (ETH), Francine Nyiomukunzi (Bur) and Winnie Nanyondo (UGA) are Some of the highlighted athletes.
At national level, Sporting Clube de Portugal (SCP), Sport Lisboa e Benfica (SLB) and Sporting Clube de Braga (SCB) will represent Portugal in the European club competition. Among the athletes, stand out Mariana Machado (SCB), Miguel Moreira (SLB), Etson Barros (SLB) and Isaac Nader (SLB).
In addition to the European Champion Clubs Cup, the event also includes the Short Cutting Regional Championship and the almond mini-Cross, intended for younger athletes. The vice president of the Portuguese Athletics Federation (FPA), Paulo Guerra, stressed the importance of holding these competitions simultaneously, allowing “the younger ones to see their references to compete”.
Albufeira and the future of international athletics
This event takes place a few months after Albufeira was distinguished as “European City of Sport 2026”, reinforcing the county’s international projection. The vice president of, Cristiano Cabrita, stressed that “the holding of sporting events during the low time of tourism contributes to reduce seasonality and streamline the economy of the county”. Only this weekend, more than 750 people will stay overnight in Albufeira, between athletes and technical teams.
Cristiano Cabrita also took the opportunity to launch a challenge to the competition partners: “We have already held, in Albufeira, a European Cut-Mato Championship in 2010, several European Champion Clubs Cups, we have accommodation, logistical conditions with a of the best tracks in the world ”.
“It has been time to be more ambitious. We will be European sports capital in 2026, but we still have a lot to give, so I leave here the challenge to our partners to ponder the organization, in Albufeira, of a world-cut world championship, ”he added.
In turn, Alberto Borges, from the Algarve Tourism Region Executive Committee (RTA), stressed that “conducting this type of evidence in January and February is the best to ambition to challenge the difficulties we have throughout the year” .
The 48th edition of Cross International of Almondeiras in Flor will be held next Sunday, February 2, from 10:00, with live broadcast on RTP2.
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