European World Skating Regulations do not consider a direct entry for the title holder

Porto is the current European champion, which is evidence of its victory in May, in Viana do Castelo, for the third time in its history. However, dragons will have to compete in the second (and final) qualifying round to reach the group stage of the race, since World Skate Europe regulations do not consider direct entry for the European champion in the group stage of the competition.

The Portuguese Ski Federation indicated on Friday that the three teams have direct entry into the competition. Unsurprisingly, these are Benfica, Sporting and Once Barcelos, who were seeded for the first time in the regular stage last season. The Dragons finished in fourth place.

In the second qualifying round are FC Porto, Oliverense and Valongo. In the first was Sp.. Tomar, ranked 7th in the regular stage last season. Today (18:30), the Portuguese Cup-winning team, Tomar, will meet its first-round group stage opponents.

There are four groups of four teams, with the top two teams in each group going through to the final qualifying round, which must take place between 3 and 5 November.

according to the log