Tiago
Ferreira
Portugal
·
MTB
Date of birth | December 7, 1988 |
|---|---|
Birthplace | Viseu |
Age | 37 |
Nationality | Portugal |
Career start | 2013 |
Discipline | Mountainbike Cross Country |
Tiago Ferreira has been one of Portugal's most successful mountain bikers of the past decade, establishing himself as a consistent force in cross-country marathon (XCM) racing. Best known for winning the 2016 UCI XCM World Championship, Ferreira has enjoyed a career built on longevity, combining national success with victories on the international stage.
Early career success
His impressive CV began in 2013, the year he debuted to win the Tour de Catalunya and the National Cross Country Marathon Championship. In 2014, he returned to win the Tour de Catalunya and in 2015 he had one of his best years ever. He won again in the Spanish region, claimed the national championship for the second time and won stages of the UCI MTB Marathon Series in Mêda and Laissac.
Crowned a world champion
Ferreira reached new heights in 2016. He claimed his third national championship and was victorious in Mêda and the Azores. He also represented Portugal at the Rio Games, finished runner-up at the European Championships and became UCI XCM World Champion. The victory made him only the second Portuguese rider (at the time) to win a world title in a cycling discipline, following Rui Costa.
He continued his success in 2017, winning the Volta a Catalunya and the Portuguese national title for the fourth time. He also finished runner-up at the World Championships and captured the European XCM Championship.
There were yet more titles in 2018 and 2019, including claiming first place at the UCI MTB Marathon Series in Spain and at the Marathon European Championships in Norway.
Setting new world records
In the following years, Ferreira remained a fixture on the international XCM circuit while also embracing new challenges. In 2020, he became the holder of an official world record for the greatest vertical ascent on a mountain bike in 24 hours. He set a new mark of 17,753 metres after riding 83 laps of a 3km circuit in São Pedro do Sul, Portugal.
Four years later, Ferreira would once again write his name into the record books by completing the longest distance traveled on a mountain bike in 24 hours. He covered a staggering 581km with an average speed of 29kph.
Ferreira continues to compete in elite marathon events around the world, adding victories in prestigious stage races such as the Brasil Ride series while cementing his reputation as one of Portugal's most accomplished mountain bikers.