LAS VEGAS – Heading into the 2024 PBR Camping World Teams Championship, Silvano Alves knew this was his proverbial last rodeo.

Having retired from the Unleash The Beast at the 2024 PBR World Finals in May, the three-time World Champion was ready to hang up his spurs for good after one last season with the Nashville Stampede.

Every time he took to the dirt in Las Vegas, his career was in his hands.

The Stampede battled to T-Mobile Arena through the Ride-In Round on Oct. 17, where his teammates secured the win before he even had to ride.

They took on the Texas Rattlers in their first head-to-head game in Las Vegas, and while the Stampede came up short, Alves rode Lapua for 86.75 points.

Relegated to the Last Chance Game following the loss, Alves was slated to be the second-to-last man out. The Stampede, Austin Gamblers, and New York Mavericks each had one ride – the Mavericks were mathematically eliminated, and a ride by Alves would put the Gamblers in a must-ride situation.

Alves climbed aboard Black Gold – letting the chute clock tick down towards zero, as has always been his custom – and eight seconds later, the whistle sounded.

But so did the challenge horn.

The Gamblers had challenged Alves’s ride, alleging he’d let go of the rope before the 8-second whistle, and the judges agreed.

Alves had been bucked off in an agonizing 7.96 seconds. The Stampede’s season was over, and so was his career.

It was an emotional moment, but with a weekend to process, Alves shrugs the whole thing off.

“I feel good,” the newly retired bull rider said. “It was very emotional, but nothing sad. Just emotional, happy to look back at my career and God blessing my career. I had an amazing career, in the United States and in Brazil, my full career. It’s a blessing.”

Alves was greeted on the dirt with a hug from close friend Kaique Pacheco, whose qualified ride for the Gamblers ultimately sent the Stampede packing.

“It’s part of the game,” Alves said of his friend indirectly ending his career. “It’s normal. It’s Kaique there, but I cheer for him when he rides, and same thing – I know for sure, 100%, that he’s cheering for me too. It happens. It’s a game. There was a challenge and a replay. I want my team to win, but I know someone on the other side is my best friend. It’s part of the game. But I’m happy that happened for him because I love him. We’re really close, me and him. It was a good moment, a good memory for me and him. I have to say some words for him because he’s special to me.”

For his part, Pacheco is grateful for everything Alves has done – for him and for the sport.

“Silvano is a guy I grew up watching in Brazil, and I always have a dream to meet him one day,” Pacheco said. “I thank God for the opportunity to meet him, and he become one of my best friends and part of my family. He is one of the legends of PBR. In PBR history, he’s one of the greatest bull riders of all time. He’s helped me so much in my career. I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done for me.”

Alves retires as the most decorated rider in PBR history.

He’s one of only two riders to win three World Championships and one of two riders ever to win two back-to-back. He was the 2010 Rookie of the Year, and in 2011, his first world title season, he had an eye-popping 69% riding percentage. He’s second on the all-time money earners list with $6,787,339.99 and added a fourth title with the inaugural PBR Teams Championship in 2022.

He also has the third-most qualified rides in history with 527, behind only Guilherme Marchi (637) and J.B. Mauney (538).

Incredibly, Alves wasn’t drafted in the inaugural PBR Teams draft in 2022, passed on by all eight teams.

It wasn’t until Stampede head coach Justin McBride reached out that he was signed as a free agent.

It turned into arguably the best free agent signing in Teams history. Alves finished third in the 2023 MVP race and has been the Stampede’s unquestionable leader, going 36-for-77 (46%) across three seasons.

When asked to describe what Alves has meant to the Stampede, McBride is at a loss for words.

“I really can’t,” McBride said. “I don’t get very emotional about this sport. I’ve been in it my whole life, from the time I was a little kid. But that guy I get a little emotional about. He means so much to this team, and that’s why he will stay with the team. He already helps me out a lot, from a coaching standpoint, and he’ll stay on in that role, as a coach. I’m sure it won’t be long until somebody comes knocking to give him his own deal, and that’ll be a very proud day for me when that does happen. I just hope it doesn’t happen too soon, you know? At least give us a year or two together. He means everything to this team, he really does. It’s been really special to have him.”

Following the loss in the Last Chance Game, the Stampede returned to the locker room, where words and hugs were shared with Alves – as a rider – for the last time.

“I never imagined in my head how people were proud of my career and me personally,” Alves said. “I’m thankful and blessed for the people around me, for the PBR, the guys working together, the bull riders, the PBR, fans, and my family supporting me, my sponsors. I’m very blessed and thankful for everything. It’s hard to say the names because sometimes I forget one, but thank you to everybody.”

Alves was on hand Sunday afternoon to be officially honored in T-Mobile Arena. Emotions ran high as the fans tipped their caps to the man they can call the greatest of all time.

Next summer, Alves will be back in blue and gold as a coach for the Stampede. In the meantime, he plans to spend some time in Brazil and focus on supporting his family. His kids have started roping and qualified for the Junior World Finals rodeo, and he’s ready to go home and be a dad.

“I closed a chapter last night, and today I open another chapter for my life,” Alves said. “I’m very happy, and thank you God for everything. It’s hard. It’s so hard. Like I say every time, I’m not sad, but I’m very happy for all I do in my life, my career. I’m recognized for my amazing career, and people say beautiful words. I’m so blessed, and thank you God for all this.”

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media