Benfica Race: another great success and example of fair-play

With more than 13 thousand participants (a record), the 13th Benfica António Leitão Race was “a success, an example of vitality, of love for Benfica and fair-play”, as synthesized Domingos Almeida Lima and Fernando Tavares, vice-presidents of Club. Even the weather helped, with the sun shining on this Sunday morning, in Lisbon.

To win was the least important like the athletes themselves admitted after crossing the finish line, but the competitiveness is an intrinsic factor in this kind of events (see photo gallery).

In the 10-km race, the benfiquistas Rui Pinto (1st), André Pereira (2nd) and Ricardo Ribas (3rd) completed the podium in the men's sector. Silvana Dias (1st) Filipa Moutinho (2nd) and Dulce Félix (3rd) won the main positions in the women's event (see all the results HERE.)

Isaac Nader was the first in the 5 km, followed by Duarte Gomes and José Carlos Pinto, who are also Benfica athletes.

Rui Pinto, the winner of the 10-km race, highlighted the family atmosphere of the Race. “This is a race in which we are as a family. My main goal was to enjoy the competition, among the people. The victory came as an extra. It is always a privilege to be able to run where to win is spectacular”, said the athlete to BTV.

Silvana Dias, the winner of the women's 10-km race, was happy with the first triumph after several participations. “Last year I finished second, behind Dulce Félix. To live this environment, the "benfiquista" celebration, with so many Benfica fans supporting us throughout the entire course is fantastic. It is priceless”, she stated.

Highlighting that the Benfica António Leitão Race “was once again a success”, the vice-president Domingos Almeida Lima mentioned, among other aspects, the growth in the number of participants and fair-play.

“We had more people participating and watching. It is another step towards what we want the Benfica Race to be and I am sure that in a near future, maybe already next year, there may be a pleasant surprise. This race is already a classic, another work of Benfica's mystic and we may have the whim of turning it into an international race”, stressed Domingos Almeida Lima.

In the same line, Fernando Tavares praised the success of the Benfica António Leitão Race. “It is an example of vitality after a win from the football team. -One experienced a great moment of "benfiquismo", with more than 13 thousand participants, which is a record. It gives us encouragement and responsibility of trying to make this race grow. It was an example of great "benfiquismo" and an opportunity for supporters of other clubs”, he pointed out.

With Benfica's stamp of quality, it was a weekend in great style, that began on Saturday with the Kids Race (photo gallery).