Avaí/FME Florianópolis start 27th Volta de Santa Catarina today | OneFootball

The AVAÍ / FME Florianópolis / APGF cycling team is already in Pomerode, Santa Catarina, where it begins its participation in the 27th Tour of Santa Catarina 2026, also known as Volta SC. The competition brings together major national and international teams for a week of racing on the roads of Santa Catarina. There will be five stages across different regions of the state of Santa Catarina. “The race starts at 1 p.m. We will cover 120 kilometers between Pomerode and Ascurra. We have a very competitive team, with six athletes. Matias Médici, winner of the tour in 2004 and third place in 2016, also won a stage in 2016. Another strong athlete we have is José Gabriel Almeida, who was the Brazilian mountain bike champion last year. We also have Under-23 athletes who have been standing out in competitions. Our expectation is to have a good event and represent our institution well, which turned 103 years old on September 1. In fact, on Sunday we will have the stage that will pass by Ressacada Stadium, in tribute to Avaí!”, highlighted Diones Chinelatto, technical coordinator and Avaí athlete.

Avaí has already been champion of the International Tour of Santa Catarina. In the Overall Individual Champion category, Argentine cyclist Matias Médici, riding for Avaí F.C., was the overall winner of the race in 2004 (marking the first victory by a foreign rider and by a team from Santa Catarina in the competition).

In the Team Champion category, the Avaí F.C. / FME Florianópolis / APGF team won the team classification title in the 25th edition of the race in 2016. Other podium finishes came in 1997, when it reached 3rd place overall in the team standings.2026 EDITION BEGINS IN POMERODE-SCThe first stage will cover 118 kilometers between Pomerode and Ascurra, passing through Rio dos Cedros, Timbó, Benedito Novo, São Virgílio, and Rodeio.

On Thursday (09/03), there will be 135 kilometers with both start and finish at the Sanctuary, at the Our Lady of Lourdes and Praise Complex, in Ituporanga, on a route with more than 2,000 meters of elevation gain.

On Friday (04), the cyclists will start early from Urubici toward Bom Jardim da Serra and the Serra do Rio do Rastro lookout, on a 110-kilometer mountainous route. The stage will also feature something new: in the afternoon, starting at 3 p.m., a 20-kilometer team time trial in Orleans.

On Saturday (05), the Queen Stage takes place, with 138 kilometers between Orleans and the Serra do Rio do Rastro lookout. The challenge includes 2,585 meters of elevation gain and the final 17-kilometer climb up the mountain range, with an average gradient of 6.3% and 1,085 meters of total elevation change.

The final stage is scheduled for Florianópolis on September 6 (Sunday), with a 70 km route, starting from Avenida Beira-Mar Norte and returning to the same point. On this day, the athletes will cross the Hercílio Luz Bridge, head toward Avaí Stadium, and ride a lap around Ressacada (Aderbal Ramos da Silva Stadium) — in celebration of the Club’s 103rd anniversary. Then they continue past the Air Base in Tapera toward Morro das Pedras, before returning in the direction of Florianópolis International Airport and Downtown, heading to the final circuit of approximately 5 km on Avenida Beira-Mar Norte, where the overall champion will be crowned, with the start and finish arena at Praça Sesquicentenário, known as Bolsão da Casan.ABOUT THE TOURWhat:Date: September 1 to 7, 2026Opening: September 1, in PomerodeProfessional stages: September 2 to 6Regions: European Valley, Upper Valley, Santa Catarina Highlands, and FlorianópolisSerra do Rio do Rastro Challenge: September 5, starting at 7 a.m.Florianópolis Challenge: September 7, starting at 12 p.m.The 2026 Tour of Santa Catarina is sponsored by Soul Cycles, Havan, Proaço, RVB, HB (Hot Buttered Australia), Aunna, and RAM/DVA. The event also has support from Disauto, Fibra Sports, Chá Feel Good, Banana Brasil, Nathor Bicicletas, and Santuá Sports, in addition to institutional sponsorship from PIE — the Sports Incentive Program — and Fesporte.

Photo: Avaí F.C. / FME Florianópolis / APGF

Photo: Avaí F.C. / FME Florianópolis / APGF

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.