The 30th edition of Volta ao Alentejo, on the road between the 22nd and 25th of March, is the main cycling event of the week. The Algarve team of Carmim-Prio-Tavira will be present in the competition.
A Back to Alentejo it will have four stages and a total of 676,7 kilometers. A race is planned for sprinters and for rollers. Bonuses on arrivals can be decisive, as the route is far from the Serra de Portalegre and there is no time trial on the menu.
Among the likely participants are two runners, Sérgio Ribeiro and David Blanco, both from Efapel-Glassdrive, who may aspire to break the tradition of the “Alentejana”, proof that has never been won twice by the same cyclist.
The race opens with a connection of 165,8 kilometers between Castelo de Vide (11:30 am) and Redondo (15:30 am). This is followed by a journey of 191,3 kilometers, from Portel (11:15 am) to Santiago do Cacém (16:00 pm). The third stage connects Odemira (11:30 am) to Ourique (15:30 am), over 168,6 kilometers. The race ends with a run of 151 kilometers, starting in Mértola (11:20) and ending in Grândola (15:00).
BMX in Portimão, Cycling in Tavira, Veterans in Almodôvar
The second stage of the BMX Cup of Portugal will take place on Saturday, from 14 pm, on the BMX Track in Portimão. The same venue will host the 00nd BMX Portugal Open, on Sunday morning, starting at 2 am.
In the Algarve, leisure cyclists will cycle by road on the 10th Terras de Santa Maria Cycle Tour. Cyclists will complete a 60-kilometre route, departing at 9:00 am at the headquarters of the Club União de Ciclismo Tavirense, and arriving at the same location at around midday.
Meanwhile, the squad of veterans will race, on Saturday and Sunday, the Volta ao Concelho de Almodôvar.
Many tests across the country
Still on the road, next weekend sees the start of the national season for male juniors and cadets and all female levels. The Opening Competition for Women takes place at 10:00 am on Saturday, on a circuit with departure and arrival at the Pavilhão Gimnodesportivo de Anadia.
The Opening Competition for Cadets and Juniors will take place on Sunday, in São João da Ribeira, Rio Maior. The youngest will cover 74,6 kilometers, starting at 9:30 am, while the juniors will have 103,8 kilometers in front of them, starting at 14:30 pm.
The Centro Marathon moved this year from Leira to Batalha, but it is still the first race of the Portuguese Cup of Marathons (XCM) Sport Zone. It's going to run next Sunday. The men will cover 90,5 kilometers with an accumulated difference of 2050 meters. The women will cycle along 70 kilometers, which include 1450 meters of unevenness.
In addition to the competitive aspect, there will be hundreds of leisure practitioners, making the event a huge cycling party. The match will be given at 9:30 am, with the first male athlete in the Cup marathon expected to arrive around 13:30 pm. After the Marathon, the Batalha/Pia do Urso Mountain Bike Center will be inaugurated at 18:00.
Gouveia welcomes, from Friday to Sunday, the elite of DHI. The first two days are dedicated to training, with the DHI Internacional de Gouveia competition being saved for Sunday. Riders will descend for two kilometers, from the campsite to the equestrian centre, from 11:00 am.
Regional competitions also accelerate in the coming days. In the Azores, the 3rd Tasting of the II XCO Thermofaial Cup takes place on Sunday, at 10:00 am, at Quinta de S. Lourenço, Faial.
The second race of the Olympic Cross Country Regional Minho Championship is scheduled for the same date. This is the XCO Citânia do Facho, to be held at 14 pm, in the parish of Roriz, Barcelos. Also in the Minho region, Sunday morning, starting at 00:9 am, was chosen for the MTB Tour Portela 00, which will take place in the municipality of Monção, and for the MTB tour “À Descoberta de Valtorno”, in Vila Verde.
Comments