As the European Championships in Tarragona draw closer, Portugal’s Maria Tomé arrives with growing confidence, valuable experience and a determination to continue building on a promising season.
Having already raced three times in 2026, Tomé believes the early part of the year has provided important lessons both physically and mentally.
"I’ve learnt that I can stay calm and competitive in different race situations," she said. "Each race has presented different challenges, and I think I’ve become better at adapting and trusting the work I’ve done in training."
That ability to remain composed under pressure has been a key takeaway, helping to build confidence and reinforce the belief that she can compete at the highest level.
One of the standout moments of the season came in Quarteira, Portugal, where a silver medal in front of a home crowd provided a memorable boost.
"Winning silver in Quarteira was a really special moment," she said. "Racing in front of family, friends and home supporters gave me an extra boost and reminded me why I love competing."
The result not only delivered a podium finish but also strengthened her belief that she can challenge internationally.
"It showed me that I can compete with strong athletes and encouraged me to keep aiming higher."
A top-ten finish at last year’s European Championships in Istanbul marked another important milestone, and Tomé feels significant progress has been made since then.
"Physically, I’m stronger and more consistent, but I think the biggest improvements have been in my experience and race awareness," she explained. "My training has become more specific and focused on the demands of high-level racing."
That development has also influenced her approach to racing.
"Tactically, I’ve learnt to be more patient and make smarter decisions during races instead of reacting too quickly. I understand my strengths better now and try to use them more effectively."
Preparation for Tarragona has included learning from both successes and setbacks. A race in Italy at the end of May may not have delivered the desired result, but it provided valuable lessons heading into one of the season’s key events.
"Italy didn’t go the way I wanted in terms of performance, but that’s part of sport," she said. "I took the lessons from that race, stayed focused and kept working towards the next competitions."
Rather than dwelling on disappointment, the experience reinforced the importance of resilience and maintaining a forward-looking mindset.
"Mentally, it reinforced the importance of staying resilient and looking forward rather than dwelling on one result. Physically, training has been going well and I feel ready to compete."
This year’s course in Tarragona offers a different challenge to the hilly terrain of Istanbul, with a flatter profile expected to shape the race in a different way. However, Tomé remains focused on adapting to whatever unfolds on race day.
"Every course brings different challenges and opportunities," she said. "The flatter profile will probably create a different type of race compared to Istanbul, but my approach remains the same. I’ll focus on adapting to the race as it unfolds and making the best decisions possible on the day."
When it comes to defining success, the focus extends beyond finishing positions alone.
"A successful race is one where I perform to my potential and execute the race the way I know I can," she said. "Of course, results are important, but I also want to come away knowing that I raced aggressively, made good decisions and gave everything until the finish line."
With confidence growing, valuable international experience already gained and a clear commitment to continued improvement, Maria Tomé heads to Tarragona eager to test herself against Europe’s best, challenge for a strong result and continue her upward trajectory throughout the remainder of the season.