Commemorations
Eduardo Lopes
Eduardo Lopes
* 22 december 1917 
22 augustus 1997
22-12-2015 15:49:51
Eduardo Lopes (1917–1997)
Eduardo Lopes was born on December 22, 1917, in the civil parish of Socorro (Lisbon).
In 1937 he began his career as a rider of the CUF team, as an amateur. He became Road National Champion (Amateurs) on that year of 1937, winning several other races.
In 1938 he became a professional. From 1937 to 1947, he had more than 40 wins on famous races and circuits at that time, including Bairrada, Mealhada, Torres Vedras, Malveira and Round to Lisbon, with the highlight being his victory in 1942 in the classic OPorto-Lisbon, performed in a single stage, with an approximate duration of 10 hours, over a distance of about 340 km. This was the second longest world cycling race, after the Bordeaux-Paris (560 km) and therefore very prestigious both inside and outside Portugal. He took its record, the longest one of the race, with 14 years of duration. In 1939 he took 9th place in the Final General Classification of the Tour of Portugal. It was not his specialty or his favourite race. A distance runner and an endurance rider, as evidenced by his victory in OPorto-Lisbon, he was mainly a sprinter, winning the District and National Championships of Speed in 1941, the Speed District Championship in 1938, 1939, 1941 and 1947 and ranking in 2nd place in the National Championships of Speed in 1938, 1940, 1942 and 1944, riding mainly for the Iluminante team, which was the primary team he raced during his career. In 1941, he won the first two stages of the Tour of Portugal, riding in the team of Sport Lisboa e Benfica. In Spain, he was second in the Tour of Mallorca in 1942 (winning a stage) and third in the 3rd stage of the Vuelta a España at Badajoz, in 1945. He won the famous Spanish National Speed Champion, Juan Plans (7 times National Champion), in 1943. In 1947, he concluded his career at Sporting Clube de Portugal, winning the 166 km Classics, the Circuit of Torres Vedras, being again District Speed Champion and taking first place (yellow jersey) in the Prologue Stage 1 of the Tour of Portugal, on the runway (track) of Jose Alvalade Stadium.
He was together with João Lourenço, the greatest Portuguese "pistard" and “sprinter” of the years 40/50, according to UVP-FPC.
He died on August 22, 1997, at the age of 79 with a cerebral infarction (stroke).
December 22, 2015
22 augustus 1997
In Memoriam
22-12-2015 15:49:51
Eduardo Lopes (1917–1997)
Eduardo Lopes was born on December 22, 1917, in the civil parish of Socorro (Lisbon).
In 1937 he began his career as a rider of the CUF team, as an amateur. He became Road National Champion (Amateurs) on that year of 1937, winning several other races.
In 1938 he became a professional. From 1937 to 1947, he had more than 40 wins on famous races and circuits at that time, including Bairrada, Mealhada, Torres Vedras, Malveira and Round to Lisbon, with the highlight being his victory in 1942 in the classic OPorto-Lisbon, performed in a single stage, with an approximate duration of 10 hours, over a distance of about 340 km. This was the second longest world cycling race, after the Bordeaux-Paris (560 km) and therefore very prestigious both inside and outside Portugal. He took its record, the longest one of the race, with 14 years of duration. In 1939 he took 9th place in the Final General Classification of the Tour of Portugal. It was not his specialty or his favourite race. A distance runner and an endurance rider, as evidenced by his victory in OPorto-Lisbon, he was mainly a sprinter, winning the District and National Championships of Speed in 1941, the Speed District Championship in 1938, 1939, 1941 and 1947 and ranking in 2nd place in the National Championships of Speed in 1938, 1940, 1942 and 1944, riding mainly for the Iluminante team, which was the primary team he raced during his career. In 1941, he won the first two stages of the Tour of Portugal, riding in the team of Sport Lisboa e Benfica. In Spain, he was second in the Tour of Mallorca in 1942 (winning a stage) and third in the 3rd stage of the Vuelta a España at Badajoz, in 1945. He won the famous Spanish National Speed Champion, Juan Plans (7 times National Champion), in 1943. In 1947, he concluded his career at Sporting Clube de Portugal, winning the 166 km Classics, the Circuit of Torres Vedras, being again District Speed Champion and taking first place (yellow jersey) in the Prologue Stage 1 of the Tour of Portugal, on the runway (track) of Jose Alvalade Stadium.
He was together with João Lourenço, the greatest Portuguese "pistard" and “sprinter” of the years 40/50, according to UVP-FPC.
He died on August 22, 1997, at the age of 79 with a cerebral infarction (stroke).
December 22, 2015
