After all the one day events, interim reports, COV19 cancellations, finally an event that deserves the name of this page, a tour. A tour through Portugal, the Transportugal Roads Tour. From the very north through the country to the most southwestern corner to the “last german sausages before America”. And of course there will be again a daily tour report with photos, interviews, and stories.

As soon as are we were back from a two week vavation in Portugal, my cycling friends out of London approached me, motivating me for a bike tour through Portugal. There has already been a Transportugal Mountain Bike Tour and obviously this motivated the organizer to also come up with a tour for road bikes.

Quite frankly, during our trip from Porto via Lisboa to the Algarve, I didn’t got the impression that cycling here would be worthwile or fun. However, the more I studied the route, the description, and the English influence worked, I got excited and finally decided to participate.

Furthermore, since the Transportugal Roads Tour is the first event for road bike riders, we are then once again kind of pioneers and that has its charm again.

The Tour

On unique paths with legendary gradients, it’s directed over small, inconspicuous passes, alternating from versatile and exciting mountain routes with their breathtaking side roads, over 7 daily stages through about 1,100 km with more than 19,000 meters of altitude across Portugal.

Clearly this will be exhausting again. A daily amount of 150 – 200 km and 2000 – 3500 meters of altitude cycling is not a walk in the park, as the Englishman says.

What have gotten myself into again. Well, this year I have already mastered a few other challenges and feel quite good on the bike. Plus, I have my friends by my side, so what can go wrong?

I will have again respect and understand that I need to intensify my training again to come back into a good physical condition. So the times of beer garden and Lake Constance summer is postponed to next year. But there is anyway a Tour de France next, Natalie would say with a smile.

The last German sausage before America

This is not a joke, it really exists. At the most southwestern cape of Portugal, Germans – no, not Austrians – have opened a sausage shop which has become a must-visit spot over the years. Now, not only because of that, the view is even supposed to be great. Retirees live tax-free in Portugal, so many have settled in the Algarve and maintain some home culture here as well. Here is their website.

The Stages

Below you find a shortened description of the stages from the road book of the organizer.

Oct’1 – Stage 0: Braga

We meet in Braga, the largest city north of Porto, get to know each other, check the equipment and have a relaxed evening together. Surely there will be some kind of introduction and afterwards great dinner.

Oct’2 – Stage 1: Braga – Peso da Régua

The Alvão National Park is the landmark of the breathtaking first stage of the Transportugal Roads Tour. So it’s off to a very challenging start with 155 km and 3550 m of uphill on the way from Braga to Peso da Régua.

Braga was built over the foundation of an ancient Roman city, currently known as Bracara Augusta, and is home to the oldest Portuguese archdiocese of the Catholic Church. The city’s landmark is the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus, a holy place. Nowadays, the city of Braga forms the main hub in the north of Portugal.

The Transportugal Roads Tour leaves downtown Braga and begins the famous Falperra climb up to the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus of Braga, where the breathtakingly beautiful views over the city and beyond are yours to enjoy.

A descent east now takes you down a small mountain road to the base of the long climb in the Fafe mountain range. From here, a steep descent takes the route directly to the food station and then the route heads back up to the top of the Alvão National Park, an absolutely unforgettable climb in the silence of the mountains.

All of a sudden the landscape changes drastically and we find ourselves in the middle of the vineyards, in the Douro Valley. It is a UNSECO World Heritage Site and might as well be called the Enchanted Valley, so overwhelming are the grace and magic that emanate from its landscape. Now it’s down the pass to the river and the finish line, the end of this stage in Peso da Régua.

Oct’3 – Stage 2: Peso da Régua – Manteigas

No less demanding it comes a day later, with 175 km and again 3280 m uphill we drive the national road 222 (EN222), it is probably the most romantic road Portugal, at least that’s what people say.

The first 22 km between Peso da Régua and Pinhão are undoubtedly the icing on the cake, as they meander so leisurely through the breathtaking landscapes. At one time, the EN222 was considered the world’s best road for cycling. But it doesn’t stop there, now the trail climbs 15 unforgettable kilometers to São João da Pesqueira, where the river and vineyards define a new dimension of being.

From here, the route continues for another 30 km on the EN222 until reaching the historic village of Marialva, for the refreshment stop. In a brisk ride, the route now passes through a drastically changing landscape and up to the Serra da Estrela National Park, where a long and challenging climb awaits with a gigantic view over the National Park and the Caldeirão Dam.

But that is by far not all! From Fernão Joanes, the route now leads to Valhelhas in a brisk 12 km descent characterized by short, fast curves and dense vegetation. Once there, it’s on to a final climb of the day up to Manteigas.

Oct’4 – Stage 3: Manteigas – Lousä

Conquering the Torre is the highlight of this 3rd stage, 2,000 m, it is the highest point in Portugal. But today it is a milder one with 140 km, but again 3260 meters of altitude. The route starts 20 km uphill with steep passes and some of the most beautiful panoramic views in Portugal. This mountain deserves a special mention for its scenic beauty and remoteness. After conquering the climb up to the top of the Torre, a 30 km descent follows.

An adventurous and winding route leads down the mountain, along enchanting woods with perfect viewpoints over the villages far below in the valley. This is one of the most challenging sections of the Transportugal Roads Tour, as the scenery is so impressive that it is easy to lose the necessary concentration.

At the foot of this fantastic descent, the route leads to the remote village of Vide, where the refreshment point of this stage awaits with a view of the romantic bridge that still spans the river of Alvoço.

Vide is located deep in the valley, so the only way out from here is uphill, through an 18 km climb with steep passes and more breathtaking views of extraordinary, small villages, springs and pastures, you reach the historic village of Piódão. A distinctive feature of this mountain village with its narrow, winding streets is the slate, a stone that is abundant in this region and is used to construct the houses and pave the roads.

Once the Serra da Estrela mountain is behind you, you are already deep in the middle of the next mountain, the Serra do Açor. From here, the route continues uphill for a few more kilometers, passing by the small village of Tojo, where the stage continues on a straight stretch of road with a scenic view of the valley over the side peak of the mountain.

Oct’5 – Stage 4: Lousä – Alter do Chäo

The highlight of the 4th stage is the ride through the mountains of Lousã. The Serra da Lousã is home to countless pine trees, red deer, roe deer and wild boar in the midst of cork oaks, chestnut trees and pine trees. Together with the Serra da Estrela and the Açor Mountains, the Serra da Lousã forms the most impressive mountain range in Portugal: the Central Cordillera. But it doesn’t get easier, it’s again a distance of 172 km and 3170 m uphill.

After the first 20 km you have already climbed about 1,000 m on an indescribable mountain road. The winding descent from here is something to remember. The curves, the viewpoints, the landscape, the peace and peaceful silence everywhere make this a cycling experience.

Passing small villages, the route now leaves the mountains behind and descends into the valley where it crosses the Zezere River. From here it is a countless ups and downs through this hilly region of the country until finally reaching the Tagus (the largest and most important river in Portugal).

Through forgotten roads, the route now takes you along the geographical center of Portugal in Vila de Rei – that is, you are right in the center of the country, north to south and east to west.

Just a few kilometers further, the route enters the Portuguese lowlands, crossing the Tagus River in the village of Belver. While now the mountains are behind you, the landscape changes gradually, not too striking, but still noticeable. The flatlands of the Alentejo give an indescribable feeling, especially when crossing these endless roads free of other traffic.

Only a few small scattered villages adorn the landscape, while the route passes through Monte da Pedra, with its typical white houses, and Crato, two of the most traditional villages of the Alentejo.

Oct’6 – Stage 5: Alter Do Chäo – Albernoa

Alentejo is one of the quietest and most traditional regions of Portugal and tests you with its hot-dry climate and immense plains, today are long 198 km but only 1670 meters of altitude.

The tour leaves Alter in the direction of Benavila along the Maranhão Dam, currently one of the most peaceful lakes in Portugal. Over pleasantly traffic-free roads, the dam as a faithful companion, the route leads to the pretty village of Avis with its lush landscapes of cork and holm oak fields, ancient olive trees and pastureland as far as the eye can see. The village was once protected by the monastery of the same name, built on the top of the granite rock and surrounded by the waters of the nearby dam.

Behind every bend of the route awaits a new stunning view, the water in the background and the landscape peppered with the typical cork and holm oak trees of the region. Every moment, every step is a landscape experience, with the horizon marked by the distance and the brilliant white of the typical villages of the Alentejo.

Not much longer and you cross Pavia, another picturesque village of the region, until a little later, after a gentle stretch straight ahead, you reach the village of Arraiolos with its well-preserved castle.

Here the food station is practically the landmark on this route, because from here you continue through flat, level, steppe-like plains, until you reach Viana do Alentejo, and a little later, over a gentle slope, you arrive at the typical village of Alvito. In the last 50 km you pass through more small villages, but most of this section, until the end of the stage, you are pretty much alone on the road.

Oct’7 – Stage 6: Albernoa – Monchique

165 km and 2340 meters of altitude sounds rather mild compared to before. But the 6th day takes you back to the mountains. The highlight is definitely the climb to Foia, the highest point in the Algarve. A strenuous climb, but undoubtedly more than worth it for the fantastic views over the south and west coast of the Algarve.

The route brings us to Santa Vitória, where a few kilometers are covered on National Road 2 (N2), Portugal’s Route 66. This iconic Portuguese road runs through the center of the country and, with a length of more than 700 km, stretches from the Roman town of Chaves on the Spanish border in the north down to the magnificent southern beaches of the Algarve.

After crossing Aljustrel, the plains stretch out and leave seemingly endless country roads without climbs or descents behind you. simply roll through the Alentejo until you reach Odemira, one of the largest towns in the area, in front of you. From here the route continues south on the N120 until, in a more remote area, the refreshment stop for this stage is in São Teotónio.

Now the silence, the unspoiled nature, the short curves and the forest almost feel like you are walking. We are now on the forgotten roads of Portugal, leading up to the mountain Foia for a distance of 25 km. The climb is absolutely unforgettable and peppered with short, steep sections with 18-percent grades, as well as indescribably beautiful views of the mountains, the sea and the forest!

After the climbed top, you start a 15 km long descent through the small village of Monchique and further to Alferce. From here, the route takes another climb to the other side of the mountain. The following descent stands out for its magnificent wide view over the Odelouca reservoir with its fancy relief and you are already at the finish of today’s stage.

Oct’8 – Stage 7: Monchique – Sagres

The farewell stage leads over an easy 100 km and about 1400 meters of altitude to the Atlantic coast of the Algarve. But before heading to the sea, you have to leave the mountains of Monchique behind. Monchique is living proof that the Algarve has so much more to offer than just sun and beach.

After leaving the hotel, the route takes you on a long but not too steep climb with a unique view of the beautiful mountains of the region. Once at the top, on cloudy days you can look out over the Atlantic Ocean on the south coast of the Algarve.

Following the road on the plateau, the route now leads through lush greenery and a seemingly endless descent of about 20km downhill, to the reservoir of Odiaxere. The feeling of peace and tranquility that this reservoir radiates is indescribable.

After this experience, we continue deep into the wilderness, where far from the road there seems to be hardly a soul. Only a few small white villages can be made out here and there at the top of a driveway, but apart from that, most of the route passes through lonely and forgotten mountain roads.

Following the wide open landscape, we then head west, closer and closer to the ocean with the scent of salty seawater and sandy beaches in the air we see the first surfers with their distinctive vans. Now we are in the middle of the nature park and the landscape changes abruptly. Only a few more kilometers and you can feel why Sagres is called the end of the world.

And here we are again arrived at the station of the “last German sausages before America”.

October 9, it’s up to come back from Faro with a bag of new experiences and some new cycling friends.

So, be curious about the daily reports out of a new region where we havn’t been before.