Portugal is an underrated cycling destination. At the time of writing, the Volta ao Algarve is in full swing. Later in the year, the Tour of Portugal has been mapped out for the men's pro peloton and then you can see the beauty Portugal has to offer. If you are going to cycle in Portugal, you have to take into account some unsurfaced terrain as it is so nicely called. We give you the 10 best climbs in the land of Fado, port and Pastel de nata.
Montejunto
You'll find this climb in the Serra de Montejunto, just north of the capital Lisbon. It is not very high, but is quite open. So it's a bit more of a challenge in summer. You can also hike beautifully here. There is some challenge in this pimple, because in 11 kilometres you bridge some 5% average and these are not in a straight line uphill. With outliers to 18% on some short sections, this is no mean feat! A wonderful option in the Lisbon region, though.
Col de Bigorne
This climb in particular is very long, more than 30 kilometres from the start. The climb is not particularly steep, let alone with big peaks. A lovely long runner, a la the Brenner Pass in the Innsbruck region. This climb is among others in the N2 Challenge and is a beautiful climb in the Douro valley, perhaps the most beautiful part of Portugal.
Col de Torres - Covilha
This climb is the most famous climb in Portugal. Often featured as a feature in the round of Portugal this is a truly distinctive climb. It is roughly next to its little brother the Manteigas and you can do a wonderful 'Ronda Estrella', a la Sella Ronda in the Dolomites. Screw good legs though, as this is not an easy round trip. However, the views are breathtaking. Just make sure not to go too early or too late in the year, as it can snow!
Manteigas
The province of Guarda is home to this iconic, Portuguese climb. It is (in the best version) 15 kilometres long, with an average of 4%. You head up here towards a veritable ski resort. You might not have expected that in this region. There are beautiful hairpin bends and at some points you have stunning views. The climb doesn't get extremely high, so much of it you also ride through beautiful forests. Which is nice in summer. There are several variants, with the longest being 26 kilometres. Beautiful as far as we are concerned
Zezere - the climb to the glacier
The climb to this glacier is famous, infamous and therefore a nice challenge. With 13 kilometres ahead and over 800 altimeters to cover, this is one of the tougher challenges when cycling in Portugal. In the end, you end up with 6.5% average, which is just a hefty climb. Why you should definitely tackle this beautiful climb? It's also in the Serra de Estrella, so it fits in nicely with Manteigas and Torres. Go especially in the early months of spring, as that's when the falls are at their best. The melting snow is mainly to blame.
Arnaso to Calcedonia
Way up in the north of the country, against the border with the Spanish province of Galicia, you'll find the climb to Calcedonia. Be careful when you google this because you'll quickly get all kinds of offers for new underwear. A nice hidden gem. The climb is 6 kilometres long and you then cover almost 350 altimeters. So you have a climb averaging 6% ahead of you.
Col de Santo Antonio
That this list concentrates around the Serra da Estrella should now come as no surprise. There are a lot of hidden climbs. If you go to the Unhais da Serra, you actually have to climb the 14 kilometres up via 860 altimeters and 14 kilometres of painful climbing kilometres.
Col de Seia
This climb is a monster in length. At 5% average over 28.5! kilometres, you won't be back home overnight. The highest gradient is 10% so you'll need to have good legs too. This is another variant of the 'Torre' climb. But certainly not a bad one. The climbs to the top are all long and painful. This one is no exception. Many a rider at the Volta A Portugal will still curse this one.
Col de Gois
This is a nice challenge, which you need to tackle quietly. This one is just south of the Serra de Estrella, so you could combine it nicely if you wanted to. There are several events, but the best known is the N2 Challenge, which includes this one. It's a long run, with 4% averaged over 15 kilometres. That's 525 altimeters anyway
Col de Cabeca
If you thought you were done with cycling, consider climbing this col in the Serra de Estrella national park. Because with 31 kilometres, over 1,600 altimeters at 5.5%, this is perhaps the most challenging climb in all of Portugal. Starting from the village of Vide, on the edge of the park, you will have to overcome several intermediate climbs to finally reach the top, demolished but satisfied.
