On the rocks
PRAIA DA Rocha will see two major sports spectacles on its golden sands during the coming month. From August 15 to 20, the beach football ‘Mundialito’(Mini-World Cup) will take centre-stage accompanied by live television coverage, followed by the Portugal Open beach tennis championships scheduled for August 25 and 26. Last weekend, holidaymakers were surprised to find snowboarders shooting down an 80-metre long and 22-metre high ramp covered in artificial snow. Portimão has agreed to stage one component of the extreme sport’s World Cup over the next three years.
Pedal power
CYCLING’S TOUR of Portugal will kick off this Saturday in Portimão with the first 186km stage to Beja. It is the first time in two years that the event, which ends in Castelo Branco on August 15, will take in the Algarve and Alentejo. In total, 18 teams, eight of which are foreign based, are competing in the 2006 edition of the race.
