BEST GRANFONDOS TO PLAN YOUR ROAD CYCLING HOLIDAYS IN PORTUGAL

Granfondos and Sportives are a great way of exploring some of the best roads in the country. Here is a list of sportives held in Portugal so you can better plan your cycling holidays in Portugal throughout the year!

Here are some of the Granfondos held in Portugal we love to ride in, organized by dates they are usually held, so you can better plan your cycling experience around your holidays in Portugal. Thankfully, there are many other amazing road cycling events in Portugal, so these are just a few that we love - Hope you enjoy the list!

ALGARVE GRANFONDO

When: February
Website: http://voltaaoalgarve.com/en/granfondo_en/

One of the first Sportives of the season, held during the "Volta ao Algarve", the most international road cycling UCI event held in Portugal, which makes for a good opportunity to see the likes of team Sky, Katusha, Ettix Quick-Step and others who have participated in the "Volta ao Algarve" in the last years. Choose from the Granfondo or Mediofondo options and anticipate your season by exploring the sunniest region of the country, as February boasts great temperatures for road cyclists to ride here. Usually held in Loulé or Tavira, you' may get to climb the local challenges of "Barranco do Velho" or the Monchique Sierra. We suggest hanging around the area and planning a Cycling Camp in the Algarve with friends, so you get to explore all the roads in the region.

MONTEMURO GRANFONDO

When: April
Website: http://www.montemurogranfondo.com/

Held in Cinfães, in the north of Portugal, it's a great option add to a city break in Porto, voted European Beast Destination of 2017). Although it is a recent event, it is organized by the same team that organizes the Douro and Bragança Granfondo, making it one of the best organized events in the country. You can choose to ride mini, medio or granfondo distances ( up to 125km) by the Montemuro Sierra, in Cinfães or even join a hike associated to the event.

GRANFONDO LISBOA

When: April
Website: https://www.granfondolisboa.com/

What better way to plan a city break in Lisbon than to join Granfondo Lisboa? Ride by some of the most iconic monuments of Portugal's capital - ride starts in Belém, in front of the Jerónimos monastery - heading to the Sintra Sierra and the Portuguese west coast, experiencing some of the best climbs of the region. Choose from the Medio or Granfondo options and explore the roads loved by local riders. Organized by Ultraspirit, the team that designed the Serra da Estrela and Lousã Granfondos.

DOURO GRANFONDO

When: May
Website: http://dourogranfondo.com/

This is the biggest road cycling event in the country ( nearly 3000 riders join it every year), held in a UNESCO world heritage area: Douro wine country, home to Port wine. Smooth roads, challenging climbs, fast descents and landscapes filled with vineyards. You can choose from several distances ( Mini, Medio, Granfondo) and tackle the long climbs of the region. We advise staying for a few extra days to better explore this region's vineyards, landscapes and roads, and making it a cycling weekend in the Douro. Alberto Contador rode in the 2018 edition - cannot miss!

GERÊS GRANFONDO

When: June
Website: http://geresgranfondo.com/

"Peneda Gerês" is the only National Natural park in Portugal and it's fauna and flora live up to that expectation. This forested protected area is located in the North ot Portugal has a special appeal to it, packed with very tough climbs and descents. You can join the Mini, Medio or Granfondo options ( up to 144km long ) or even a hike by the National Park, where you'll discover the luxurious vegetation, dams and waterfalls. Roberto Heras has been one of the biggest name to join this event. Make it a cycling weekend in Gerês to better explore the area!

SERRA DA ESTRELA GRANFONDO

When: July
Website: http://www.granfondopremium.com/serra-da-estrela

The "Torre", or "Adamastor" are names all Portuguese road cyclists know well - they pose some of the most challenging climbs in the country. This is one of the most challenging amateur road cycling events in Portugal, where you get to climb to the highest point of Continental Portugal ( 1993m) in the Estrela natural park. Choose the Medio or Granfondo distances ( climb up to 3900D+! ) and climb and descend by glacial valleys in this Natural Park.

SERRA DA LOUSÃ GRANFONDO

When: September
Website: http://www.granfondopremium.com/aldeias-do-xisto

The first big cycle sportive in Portugal started in 2012 and is held in the center of the country, near Coimbra, in the Lousã Sierra, where the Schist Villages are found. You can choose to tackle the Medio or Granfondo distances ( up to 157km) experiencing this big mountain stage, immersed in the scenery of the Lousã and Açor Sierras, marked by aerial roads that showcase the best of the region!

GFNY PORTUGAL

When: September
Website: http://gfnyportugal.com/

GFNY Portugal is the Portuguese stage of the biggest road cycling event in the world. Choose from the Mediofondo ( 82km and 1120D+) or Granfondo ( 162km and 2281D+) options and start riding in Cascais, a beautiful city nearby Lisbon, tackling the most challenging climbs of the Sintra Sierra, Mafra and the Portuguese coastline. A great event around which you can plan a city break in Lisbon or Cascais, held in closed local roads but with the appeal and organization of the biggest road cycling event in the world - be a Pro for a day, with GFNY. Make it a 4 day cycling camp in Cascais to better explore the area.